Hearty Ham and Bean Soup

Turkey is a must on Thanksgiving... but baked ham is always on our menu for Christmas and Easter dinner. Mister and I eat ham often because we both love it. Last year, after the holiday, our local Aldi's had hams for $ 5.00!...not $5.00 a pound but a whole ham for that unbelievable price. Needless to say, the were flying out of the store.  I always save the leftover bone with some of the ham left on it for soup. Just wrap it well and freeze.

Hearty Ham and Bean Soup
Put the ham bone into a large soup pot. Fill the pot about half full with water. Heat the water to a rolling boil so that any ham left on the bone will cook off. 

Boil for 45 minutes to an hour. Remove the bone and pull off any remaining ham with a fork. Discard the bone and put remaining ham back into the pot with the liquid.
 Add half of a medium onion, chopped.
3 cans of great northern beans, drained and rinsed
A handful of chopped celery
Fresh carrots, chopped
Parsley
 pepper
minced garlic to taste
*Secret ingredient - I add some chopped pepperoni slices to increase flavor.

Cook on low for one hour.

  **Sprinkle in a small amount of instant mashed potatoes. (great as a thickener for soups and stews).
Serve with crusty bread or crackers and enjoy!


Ham and Cabbage

 Here's a recipe that I use often:

Put the ham bone into a large soup pot. Fill the pot about half full with water. Heat the water to a rolling boil so that any ham left on the bone will cook off. 

Boil for 45 minutes to an hour. Remove the bone and pull off any remaining ham with a fork. Discard the bone and put remaining ham back into the pot.

 1 large onion, chopped

Add about 6 - potatoes,quartered. I used red ones because that's what I had on hand. Cook until potatoes are tender.

  Add half a head of cabbage... chopped in large pieces.

  Add bag of frozen green beans

Hubby likes a thicker broth so I sprinkle in some instant mashed potatoes. (great as a thickener for soups and stews).


Make sure you make enough for leftovers because it's always better the second day after the flavors mingle!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday  * Tasty Tuesday * Delicious Dishes * Inspire me Tuesday * Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars * Before and After Wednesday * the Alder Collective * You Link it, We Make it * What's Cookin' Wednesday  * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday * Foodie Friday and Everything Else * Friday Features * Party Palooza *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters *  Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *  Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner * Sunday Crafters-noon  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday *