White Bean and Ham Soup

Note from Cheri: Here's a great hearty bean soup, perfect for cold fall or winter evenings. Click here for more great pork recipes.

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 6 cloves garlic, minced 2 carrots, diced 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced 2 teaspoons thyme, minced 3 fresh sage leaves black pepper and salt to taste 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 cup white wine or herb vinegar 2 bay leaves 1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes with juice 6 cups chicken stock 1 meaty ham bone 1 can (15 oz.) Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained 1 can(15 oz.) Navy beans, rinsed and drained

Serves 8-10 Sauté onion, garlic, carrot in olive oil adding rosemary, thyme, sage, and basil with salt and pepper when onion is softened. Do not brown garlic. Add vinegar, tomatoes, stock, ham bone, and bay leaves. Simmer about 2 hours and add the beans and continue to simmer about 20 minutes. Remove the ham bone and fat from ham adding any meat back to the pot. Reheat and serve.