Shelly's Recipe

GERMAN BEAN AND SAUSAGE SOUP

Category: Soups

1 ham bone, with a good amount of meat left on or
3-4 carrots, peeled and sliced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
1 large onion, peeled and quartered
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb frozen green beans
1 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
10 black peppercorns
1 1/2 lbs ham, diced
4 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 lb smoked kielbasa, diced
Salt, to taste

Put ham bone into a very large stock pot and add water to within 2 inches of the top of the pot. Simmer for 40 minutes.

Add the vegetables and seasonings and simmer until potatoes are tender. Remove ham bone from the pot to a large bowl and let cool until you can handle it, then cut off and dice the meat. If the soup is too thick, add additional water.

Add all the meat back into the pot and the potatoes and carrots. Add beans and simmer.
Check for salt and serve.