I don't know if this is the actual U.S. Senate recipe but it seems close and it's quite good.
1 lb dry navy beans
2 smoked ham hocks
3 celery stalks, diced
2 baseball-size onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4c unflavored instant mashed potatoes or 1/2c real mashed potatoes
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Minced chives or parsley for garnish
Soak the beans overnight and drain. Put in a soup pot with 2 quarts water and the ham hocks. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occassionally. Add the celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, and pepper and simmer for another hour, adding a little water if the soup seems too thick. The beans will be disintegrating by this time, just what you want. Remove the ham hocks and take the meat off the bones. Dice the meat and return to the soup, discarding the bones. Add salt if needed and serve topped with minced chives or parsley.
