Hearty Bean Bacon and Ham Soup

Hearty Bean Bacon and Ham SoupServes 8-10
Ingredients8 slices Bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 cups smoked Ham, diced into small pieces1 yellow onion3 cloves garlic2 carrots2 celery stalks4 cans white beans, drained2 red potatoes, diced into small bite size pieces1 Tablespoon smoked paprika1 teaspoon black pepper1/2 teaspoon kosher salt3 bay leaves4 cups chicken broth

In a stock pot cook bacon on medium-high temperature until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon with slotted spoon, place on paper towel. 
Add ham to bacon grease in stock pot, cook until browned. 

While ham is browning. Place onion, garlic, celery, and carrots in a food processor and process until minced. 

Add veggie to ham cook until tender about 5 minutes, stir frequently.  Add the spices to the veggies mixture, mix well cook 2 more minutes.

Add chicken broth and potatoes and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. 
Add 3 cans of beans. Blend or puree the 4th can of beans. Add to soup. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Add bacon, you can save some bacon for topping soup if you like.
Serve with bread or homemade croutons.
*You can make with a 1 lb bag of white beans instead of canned beans.**You can add 1-2 cups mashed potatoes to soup when you add the beans. it will thicken the soup. I do this if I have left over mashed potatoes from a previous dinner. ***This is a good after easter soup because I usually have left over Ham and mashed potatoes.