What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Start Smart: Fifteen-Bean Ham Bone Stew! This time of year the nights are chilly and the days can still be warm. A slow-cooker makes preparing a satisfying meal pretty simple. Throw everything together and let it “stew” for awhile. Nowadays you can get an assortment of 15 beans ranging from pinto, garbanzo, and northern to split pea, navy, and lentil in the same package. Add that ham bone you stored in the freezer during the holidays and you’re on your way. By adding sweet onion, diced tomatoes, and bay leaves, you’ll make this a classic favorite every time.
FIFTEEN-BEAN HAM BONE STEW
Ingredients:
20-ounce package of 15 Bean Soup assortment
1 pound ham bone with ham chunks
32 ounces vegetable broth
32 ounces water
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4-5 bay leaves
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions:
Rinse beans. Place in a large pot filled with 8 cups of water. Allow beans to soak overnight. After soaking, drain water. Transfer beans to a slow-cooker. Add ham bone with meat. Cover with vegetable broth and water. Add chopped onion, chili powder, garlic powder, and bay leaves. Cook on High setting for 5 hours (or Low setting for 7-8 hours) or until beans are tender. Remove the ham bone. Let the excess meat fall off into the stew or cut it off the bone and put the meat chunks back into the crockpot. Stir in diced tomatoes, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. Cook 30 minutes longer on Low setting. Before serving, remove bay leaves. Serve with crusty bread.
YUM. I wish you could just buy a ham bone. A ham these days is too much food for 2. Any ideas?
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When I find it on sale, I buy it. After one dinner, I divide the rest into meal portions and freeze for future recipes. It makes my life easier and less stressful. I do the same with turkey, pork tenderloin, and beef roasts. 👏
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Great idea, thanks.
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You’re welcome. 🍃🍓
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I use to buy 13 different beans at the bulk food store and package them up along with a recipe for French Market Soup as gifts. Similar to your recipe Gail 🙂
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Sounds delicious. Who wouldn’t smile at receiving such a delicious gift?!?! 😍🍃
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I’ve never seen an assortment of 15 beans, but it’s easy to buy a ham hock. I can improvise on the beans.
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Now that’s a lot of beans!!!!!!
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Looks like a cowboy meal… yippie
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Yippee Ki-Yay! 🤠
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😂
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A hearty, healthy delight 🍲😋🍃
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For sure. Checks all the boxes for healthy fiber. ☑️
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The ham bone is connected to the Mmmmm bone.
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I’m going to say Funny Bone because I just had a retail experience where my husband saw me lose my cool. Trust me, that never happens. 🤔
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Every now and again, we need to let off some steam.
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He actually said he was proud of me. Get this, we returned an item at Lowe’s, which they put on a gift card. Then we spent another hour in the store searching for items on our list. When we went to pay with the Lowe’s gift card they had just issued us, we were told “our system is down and only accepts cash or check.” I said, “ It didn’t have any problem working to issue me my refund on the gift card, so explain that to me.” Plus it would’ve been helpful to hear those words as customer service handed me the card. Yada yada yada….the manager came over and told us they weren’t going to accept the card, pay with cash or check, or leave.
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The manager could have handled that so much better! You had every right to lose your cool.
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Oh well. Live and Learn. Thanks for bending an ear. 👂
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You know it Gail. 🙂
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Any season is a good time for a pot of beans!
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That’s how I feel. 😜
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