Ingredients:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups dried black beans
• 1 ham bone or some ham meat minus fat
• 5 to 6 cups water
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 4 or 5 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 to 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 bay leaf,
• 5 or 6 sprigs parsley
• 1 sprig thyme
• 2 cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Stock or milk
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• 4 to 6 slices lemon or 1/2 cup chopped ham

Directions

1. Wash beans in several changes of cold water
2. Cover with cold water and soak overnight
3. Drain beans and put into large thick pan
4. Add water and ham bone.
5. Cover pan
6. Cook 2 hours.
7. Add onions, celery, carrots, herbs, cloves, mustard, and cayenne
8. Re-cover pan and cook another 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until beans are tender.
9. Remove bone and herbs.
10. Put soup through fine sieve or blend in electric blender.
11. Reheat soup
12. If soup is too thick, add enough stock or milk to make a good texture.
13. Adjust seasoning.
14. Serve hot; garnish with egg, lemon, and croutons.