Ham Bone & Bean Soup

This is another recipe we had over the holidays.  We took the ham bone out of the New Year's Ham and used it to make this soup.  You do it in the crock pot and the best part is you don't have to soak the beans over-nite first.  You just add everything and turn it on.  Eight hours later you have a delicious soup.  No ham bone?  No worries...just use ham hocks.  Kid friendly!!

 

Ingredients

• 1 meaty ham bone or 4 -6 ham hocks
• 1 large yellow onions, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 lb great northern beans, rinsed and picked over
• 6 -8 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper ( or to taste)
• 2 T. McCormack’s Spiced Mediterranean Sea Salt

Directions

1. Add onion and celery to crock pot.
2. Place ham bone or hocks on top of onion and celery.
3. Pour rinsed beans around ham and sprinkle with pepper.
4. Add bay leaves and garlic.
5. Add chicken stock and stir to combine all ingredients cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
6. When ham is tender (6-7 hours) Remove meat from bones (discarding fat and bones) and return meat to the pot. Stir to combine and break up ham pieces.
7. To thicken smash some of the beans on the side of crock pot.
8. When done skim any fat off and discard bay leaves.