New year's day black-eyed pea soup

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

2 c Black-eyed peas dried
2 qt Water more if needed
1 Ham bone with "trimmings"
3 Onion medium chopped
2 Bay leaves
1 1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Pepper

Instructions:

Wash the beans well in cold water several times then place in a large heavy stew pot and cover with water. Allow to soak overnight. The next morning (start early ~ beans like to take their time) pour off the soaking water and ham bone 8 cups of water onion and seasonings. Put on the back of the stove and let simmer gently until beans are very tender usually about 4 hours. Add more water if needed. Remove and discard ham bone. If the water looks a bit scant pour in 1-2 cups more. When beans are good and tender remove about a cupful of the beans and mash well with some of the bean liquid. (This can be done in a blender of course.) Return mashed beans to pot taste for seasoning and serve steaming hot over freshly cooked white rice.