Drain the soaked beans and discard the water. Place the beans, ham hocks, chicken broth, and bay leaf in a soup pot; do not add salt at this stage. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 1 hour ...

If you want a creamy bean soup, just mash up some of the beans and you'll get a thick, creamy texture. Whether you're making a batch of Yankee bean soup, or pulling together a slow cooker of ...