Sarah’s Bean Soup

2 1/2 c ham, chopped (Sarah’s recipe - Ham bone with 1 1/2 c ham)
2 onions sauté in butter from below ( Sarah’s recipe - 1 onion)
(Sarah’s recipe - 1 stalk celery)

(Another option to add - 1 1/2 c chopped frozen spinach)
4 carrots
1 potato
6 cans great northern beans with juice (Sarah’s recipe - 8 cans)
1/3 c butter
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 bouillon cube dissolved in 2 c water  (Sarah’s recipe - 2 Tbsp Ham base)
1/3 c brown sugar

(If using ham bone - place ham bone in crockpot) Empty cans of beans with their liquid into crockpot. Chop onion, celery, carrots and potato. Sauté vegetables in butter til onions are lightly translucent then add to crockpot.  Stir in bouillon cube water (or add ham base)  Add brown sugar, salt and pepper. Cook several hours. (If using ham bone - remove ham bone and pull meat off bone. Put meat back in crockpot.) Keep warm til ready to serve.