Sausage and White Bean Soup

This is a healthy, stick-to-your-ribs kind of soup that I love to make at the firehouse in the fall and winter. If you prefer a spicy soup, use ½ pound hot sausage and ½ pound sweet. You can also garnish this soup however you like, with crumbled bacon, grated cheese, fresh croutons, or just some fresh chopped parsley. I prefer the ham stock for this recipe because it gives the soup a deep, smoky flavor.