Recipe(tried): Famous Senate Resturant Bean Soup - Another simple recipe

Bard, I just made this. It is really good . Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I used a ham bone left from baked ham, but the ham hocks are wonderful also.

Famous Senate Resturant Bean Soup

Take two pounds of small white navy beans,wash with hot water. Add one and one-half pounds of smoked ham hocks (I cut the skin off the ham hocks) and into four quarts of boiling water. Boil slowly for about three hours in a covered pot. Check them about ever hour to make sure there is enough water. Add water if needed. Braise one or two onions in a little butter. When the beans are done add the onion, salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar. Take half of the beans out of the pot with a little liquid and mash. Return to the rest of the soup. The braised onion gives it a really good taste. Then take out the ham hocks and take the meat off the bones and return to the soup. Enjoy with some good crusty bread.