Instructions: SOAK BEANS OVERNIGHT. DRAIN

simmer beans in 8 cups of water until soft on medium flame. meanwhile while the beans are cooking, saute the chopped onion and celery in butter until golden. add them to the soup pot along with 2 bay leaves, parsley, salt, pepper and ham bone. cook over medium heat for 3 hours, adding water if needed. after the beans are cooked and soft, remove the ham. cut off the meat and set aside. Cool off soup and put in in a blender and puree in batches. return the soup to the pot, and add 2/3 dry sherry and the ham meat. cook over low heat until warmed through and adjust seasonings.

NOTE: i leave off the celery because i dont like it. i also add a bit less than 2/3 cup sherry. adjust it to your taste. some people add the a little sherry at the table instead of putting it in the soup pot. i prefer letting it cook in, so the alchohol content is cooked off. it can also be topped with sour cream.

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