Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound black beans, soaked overnight, drained
1 ham bone, cracked
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup dry cooking sherry, or dry white wine
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Saute onions and garlic in butter until transparent. combine with beans, hame bone, celery, bay leaf, and 2 quarts water in the Crock Pot. Cook on high, covered for 2 hours, then on low for 8 to 10 hours. Remove ham bone and bay leaf. Puree soup and return to pot. Add sherry, salt and pepper and heat through.

Serve in soup bowls garnished with chopped hard-boiled eggs, parsley, and lemon slices.