Beans for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Where were you raised, gal?

Well, we do have plenty of Brokie holidays where beans are welcome as the main event. So here's my Mom's recipe, which makes a great meal all by itself.
NAVY BEANS WITH HAMMakes 4-6 servings
1 16 oz. package Navy beans
2 14-1/2 oz. cans of chicken broth
1 large onion, chopped
1-1/2 cups of ham, diced (approx.)
1-2 cloves of garlic, crushed
Coarse ground pepper and salt to taste
Rinse the beans and put them in a large pot with the chicken broth. Fill an empty broth can 2-3 times with water and add to the pot. Bring to a boil, adding the other ingredients. If you have a meaty ham bone, use less chicken broth and cook the beans with the ham bone for extra flavor.
Turn down the heat and cover. Let simmer at least two hours, or til the beans are tender, stirring occasionally. You may want to add more water if the liquid has reduced before the beans are tender. The final dish should be soupy.
Add the salt only after you have tasted the cooked beans, as the ham will make them somewhat salty anyway.
Serve up in bowls, with a generous dollop of ketchup if desired. Goes down real well with brown bread and butter and a cold beer.
