Kitchen Woodbox Quilt Block and Bean Soup

Kitchen Woodbox Quilt Block

I had navy beans in my pantry and ham (including a good bone) in the freezer, left from Christmas dinner.  It was the perfect time to make Hearty Ham 'n Bean Soup!

Hearty Ham ‘n Bean Soup

2 cups (16 ounce package) dry navy beans

6 cups water

2 pound ham shank

2 tablespoons dried minced onion

¼ teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

6 peppercorns

1 cup ham, cut into bite-sized chunks (optional)

 

1.  Soak beans overnight in water. 

2.  In large (6 quart) soup pot, combine beans in water with remaining ingredients.  Simmer, covered, for 3 to 3-1/2 hours until beans are tender.

3.  Remove peppercorns and ham bone; cut ham from bone into chunks and return to soup.

4.  If a smoother soup is desired, beans can be mashed with a potato masher or soup can be processed at medium speed in a blender.

5.  Add extra ham, if you want a meatier soup.

 

*I recently bought an immersion blender and used that to get a smoother soup.  It was so much easier to use than putting hot soup in a blender!

 

 

"There are many delights in winter, and eating in front of the fire is one of them."  Gladys Taber

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous log post Pink Ribbon Quilt Block.