Any Bean Soup

Description
A River of Recipes: Native American Recipes Using Commodity Foods by the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, public domain government resource—original source of recipe
 * Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

 * 1½ cups washed dry beans
 * 7 cups water
 * 1 medium onion, chopped
 * 1 cup chopped ham or ham bone
 * 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

 * 1) Put beans in water and boil 2 minutes.
 * 2) Cover, remove from heat, and let stand 1 hour.
 * 3) Add chopped onion to beans.
 * 4) Bring to a boil and gently simmer 2 to 2½ hours, or until beans are tender.
 * 5) Add ham or ham bone and cook for 1 hour.
 * 6) Add more water if needed.
 * 7) 15 minutes before done, remove 1 cup beans, mash and return to soup (this will thicken soup).