Recipe(tried): Basic Ham and Bean Soup (might be Jack Rabbit brand recipe)

Elaine, This is the only bean soup I've ever used, so it might be the one from the Jack Rabbit bean bag. I really don't know the brand I originally used, but have been cooking for over 40 years and never had a complaint from this soup. Good luck with your quest.

HAM AND BEAN SOUP

8 cups water
1 pound Great Northern beans or navy beans
2 cups cubed ham
1 ham bone or ham hock, optional
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
1 bay leaf* (I omit this for my family)
1 carrot, chopped or grated
1 stalk celery, chopped or sliced thinly
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

Soak beans overnight, OR use following quick cook method.

Bring water and beans to a boil; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour. (*Pour off water and replace with 8 cups new.)

Stir in ham, ham bone or hock, pepper, bay leaf, carrot and celery. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender (skim foam from top), about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If soup is too thick, add a little water.

Remove ham bone or ham hock (if used) and trim meat from bone. Return meat to soup with tomato sauce and salt; simmer for about 15 minutes longer. Remove bay leaf.

Ham and bean soup serves 6.