Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1 1/2  cups          dried white beans -- great
                        navy -- or baby
   6      cups          water
   3      cloves        garlic -- chopped
   2      teaspoons     salt
   4      cups          beef broth
     1/4  teaspoon      freshly ground black pepper
   1      teaspoon      rosemary -- crumbled
   2      cups          fresh green beans -- (about 3/4, lb), cut
                        -- on the
                        diagonal in 1-inch pieces
   1      tablespoon    butter
     1/2                lemon -- juice of

Preparation:

Wash and pick over the dried beans. Put them into a large saucepan or kettle with the water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and allow to stand for 1 hour. Return to the heat and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1/2 hour. Using a heavy fork, mash the garlic with the salt until no large chunks remain. Add to the saucepan with the beans. Add the broth, pepper, and rosemary. Simmer, partially covered, until beans are tender. This can take 15 minutes or as long as 1 hour; timing for beans is hard to predict - keep checking. Soup can be made ahead to this point, and refrigerated or frozen after thorough cooling. Cook the green beans uncovered in 2 quarts of boiling salted water until they are tender-crisp and bright green. Drain and add to the soup when the white beans are tender but not mushy. If green beans are not to be added right away, rinse in cold water to retain color. Stir in the butter and lemon. Serve at once, while green beans are still bright. Note: If you want some of the soup pureed, do it before adding the green beans - the color will be better.