Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups dried pinto beans
• 9 cups water
• 1 (1-pound) meaty ham bone
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

1. Combine beans and water in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour.
2. Add ham bone, onion, salt, and pepper to beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 2 hours. Remove ham bone from soup; remove meat from bone, and return meat to soup. Discard bone.
3. Ladle soup into individual bowls, and serve immediately with hot cornbread.