Ham & (dry) Bean soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 onion diced
• 1 large carrot peeled and diced
• ½ cup finely chopped celery
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cups shredded cooked ham
• 1½ quarts beef stock or broth (you can use chicken)
• 2½ cups dry beans — any combination of c white, lima, kidney, black or pinto beans can also be used
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• pinch of salt, if needed

Directions

1. Cook dry beans
2. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery in butter or oil for 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and ham and sauté for 2 more minutes.
4. Add broth, beans (including most of the water they were cooked in), and pepper then boil for 15 minutes.
5. Salt if necessary and serve warm.