Makes: 8 bowls

Description: This is a great winter soup that has a lot of ingredients but is easy to make. If you can't find kale, any other leafy green will do fine. This also benefits from a little hot sauce.

Ingredients:
2 cups  dry white beans, like Great Northern
2 tbsp  butter
1  onion, diced
3 stalks  celery, chopped
1  carrot, chopped
3 cloves  garlic, chopped
3  bay leaves
2 tsp  salt
1 tsp  pepper
1.5 lbs  smoked ham, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
2 tbsp  mustard
1 tbsp  fresh or dried rosemary
6 cups  chicken broth
2 cups  chopped kale, stems removed

Instructions: Soak the beans in water overnight, adding enough water to cover.

In a thick-bottomed pan, melt the butter, and add the onion, celery garlic and carrot. Add the salt and pepper and bay leaves, and cook stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Add the ham, mustard, and rosemary, stir, and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth. Drain the beans and add. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for one hour.

Add the kale, then cook for 30 minutes.

Serve in bowls.

via Donald Link, Real Cajun