Mike Roy's Ham Bone Bean Soup

Description
Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group
 * Source: Come Into The Kitchen
 * Serves 8

Ingredients

 * 1½ cups dry navy beans
 * 3 quarts water
 * ham bone
 * 1 large onion, chopped
 * 1 cup celery, chopped
 * 1 clove garlic, chopped
 * 1 cup tomato sauce or 2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped
 * ¼ tbsp oregano
 * ¼ tbsp thyme
 * ¼ tbsp sweet basil
 * 1 bay leaf (optional)
 * 3 whole cloves
 * salt and pepper to taste

Directions

 * 1) Wash beans, cover with water and let stand overnight.
 * 2) Drain beans, cover with water again.
 * 3) Bring to a rolling boil and boil one minute.
 * 4) Remove from heat and drain.
 * 5) Add the 3 quarts of water to the beans along with the ham bone and simmer 2 hours.
 * 6) Add the remaining ingredients and simmer another hour.
 * 7) Be careful with salt because of the ham bone.