Ingredients

• 2 cups navy beans
• water
• 6 slices uncooked bacon, diced
• 3 small carrots, minced
• 3 stalks celery, minced
• 1 onion, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 2 -4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (4 ounce) can tomato paste
• 6 -8 cups water (substituting 1 or 2 cups of ham stock for equal amount of water gives this soup extra depth)
• 3 drops liquid smoke
• salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
• 1 dash dried red pepper flakes