17 BEAN SOUP

WE’VE BOTH BEEN HUNGRY FOR HAM AND BEAN SOUP.  APPARENTLY MY OLE IOWA PIG FARMER FRIENDS ARE GETTING RICH OFF THE PRICE OF HAM IN ARIZONA.

JUST WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING AND TURKEY AND HAM WILL BE ON SALE.  SURE ENOUGH WE GOT AN OLE FASHION, BONE IN, CHUNK OF HAM ON SALE AT SMITH’S FOR $1.39 A POUND.

GREAT, NOW WE CAN MAKE HAM AND BEAN SOUP, AND POTATO SOUP WITH HAM.

YOU REMEMBER THE OTHER DAY WHEN MY ALL DAY PROJECT TOOK 20 MINUTES FLAT? SO REX WAS IN CHARGE OF HOMEMADE HAM AND BEAN SOUP.  I PUT THE HAM IN THE SLOW COOKER SOUP PAN AND FILLED IT WITH WATER TO GET A NICE BROTH.

 

THE HAM BROTH WAS TOO SALTY, SO HERE IS MY COOKING TIP.  MARY READ SOMEWHERE TO CUT A RAW POTATO IN HALF AND PUT IT IN THE BROTH TO ABSORB THE EXTRA SALT. I LEFT THE RAW POTATO IN THE SALTY BROTH WHILE I CUT UP THE REST OF MY VEGGIS, AND IT WORKED.

WE HAD A ONE POUND PACKAGE OF 17 DIFFERENT BEANS FROM TRADER JOE’S SOAKING OVERNIGHT AND READY TO RINSE AND ADD TO THE SOUP.

 

AS USUAL WHEN WE MAKE SOUP IN THIS POT, WE STOP ADDING THINGS WHEN THE KETTLE GETS FULL.  LOOKS GOOD DOESN’T IT?  IT SIMMERED ON THE PORCH FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND WAS READY FOR SUPPER.

I ENDED UP WITH A COUPLE OF HAM BONES AND DECIDED I’D SEE WHAT “AZ” THE CAT, WOULD DO WITH THEM.  YOU REMEMBER, “AZ” EXHIBITS A LOT OF DOG LIKE QUALITIES?

JUST LIKE A DACHOUND, HE SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON GNAWING ON THE HAM BONES. CRAZY “AZ” !!!