Ham & (canned) Bean soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 onion diced
• 1 large carrot peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cups shredded cooked ham
• 1 1/2 quarts beef stock or broth (you can use chicken)
• 4 (15 ounce) cans white beans (cannellini beans) — (any combination of canned kidney beans and black beans can also be used)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• pinch of salt, if needed

Instructions

1. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery in butter or oil for 5 minutes.
2. Add garlic and ham and sauté for 2 more minutes.
3. Add broth, beans, and pepper then boil for 15 minutes.
4. Salt if necessary and serve warm.