I was disappointed in the Bear Creek Navy Bean soup too. I added a little bit of cubed ham to it, but your right, what it needed was a ham hock. Also, I think the long slow cooking of the dry beans in any bean soup is the way to go. Instant beans, like instant potatoes just doesn't cut it!

Bear Creek makes a good Gumbo soup. I add some chicken to mine and also cook it longer so it will be thicker. about 45 min or so.

I treat Bear Creek navy bean soup as a starter - It does need something else; Its short on meat and there is something in its flavoring that I rather it not be there. Here's what I've added in the past. Use one or more of these ingredeints.

1. A can of spam. Dice into little cubes and put in after the soup is almsot done.

2. Canned chicken breast. Cut into small pieces and add after the soup is nearly done. The chicken has already been cooked in the canning process.

3. Sandwich meat: Ham or turkey. 2 to 4 slices, diced. Add and stir in about half way through cooking the soup. These meats are already cooked and ready to eat. The half way point or later provides enough time for the flavor to permeate the mix.

4. Garden vegtables. Carrots, Celery, Corn, Peas, Potatoes.
Dice the carrots and/or celery and put in near the begining of the cooking process.

5. Celery seed. Put in either celery seed or chopped celery. Do not use both.

6. V-8 tomato juice can be added to this and other soups.

7. Milk may added to tone down the sting of peppers, but milk tends to 'boil over', so watch it when the first boil appears.

I like my bean soup with peppery spices. I may add tabasco (sparingly) or louisana hot sauce. Add to taste. If you do not like the taste of the red pepper family, use freshly ground black pepper.

Now, if you leave out the Bear Creek soup, you can make a fair vegtable and meat soup with the above ingredients. Add potatoes cut into small pieces. You can shorten the cooking time of potatoes by first partially baking them in a microwave oven and then cut them up.