In about 1952, my father, Dr. Lloyd Marion McCormick, was honored by the
United States Supreme Court. I have never known for what. He flew back
to Washington D.C., and met with Justice Wm. O. Douglas. He was taken to
the Courthouse and appeared before the Court for some ceremony, and he
was given some sort of a certificate. After the ceremony, Justice
Douglas took him to lunch at the U.S. Senate Cafeteria.
The waiter asked for their orders, and Justice Douglas said he would
like to have the bean soup. Father said, "Beans are for poor people. We
don't eat beans." Justice Douglas told him that the bean soup served
there is the very best, and if all the diners in the U.S. Senate
Cafeteria are "poor people," then so be it. Father ordered bean soup.
When they had finished eating their lunch of soup, salad, and rolls,
Father asked for the recipe for that lovely bean soup. This is it:
SENATE NAVY BEAN SOUP
(from United States Senate cafeteria)
1 ½ cups beans (small whites, navy, or great northern)
2 ½ quarts boiling water
2 lbs smoked ham hocks (or 1 ½ cups cubed cooked ham)
6 peppercorns
1 cup chopped onion
¼ cup diced green pepper
¼ cup butter
2 cups chopped celery
1 cup thinly-sliced carrots
4 diced potatoes
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste (ground pepper)
2 tbsp flour
½ cup chicken broth or bouillon
snipped parsley for garnish
Wash and pick over dried navy (or small white) beans. Soak beans
overnight in water to cover. (Or, bring to a boil in pot with lid, turn
off heat, allow to set, with lid still on, for one hour.) Drain.
In large pot (or crock pot), pour boiling water over the beans. Add
smoked ham hocks or cubed cooked ham, and peppercorns. Simmer slowly.
Meanwhile, sauté chopped onion and diced green pepper in butter until
golden. Add to soup, along with chopped celery, thinly-sliced carrots,
and
diced potatoes, after about 1 1/2 hours cooking. Total cooking time on
low
in crock pot, 4 hours (provided that beans have been quick-soaked or
soaked overnight).
Remove ham hocks and slice off the edible meat, returning it to the
soup.
Add salt, and ground pepper to taste. About 15 minutes before serving,
mix flour with chicken broth or bouillon. Add to soup and stir until
soup is
thickened. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Serve with green salad and French bread.
