Monday, February 22, 2010

Delicious Ham and Bean Chowder



Beans...
For some crazy reason I have always loved and been intrigued with the thrift of beans.

Even when I was a little girl I loved beans and when my mom asked me what kind of Campbell's soup she should cook up for lunch, I always chose "Bean with Bacon".


I love
taking something that can keep in your storage room for 10-15 years, soaking them overnight and then
cooking
them until tender and having a
yummy, economical and nutritious meal
to feed my family.
This makes me happy every time!


This yummy meal is one of Tracy's favorites and if I might add...mine too.

Tracy just quoted on Facebook a few weeks ago the following after we had this for lunch.

"Homemade ham & bean chowder with cornbread... at this moment, all is right with the world"!





Ham and Bean Chowder

1 pound dried great northern beans (2 cups)
1 meaty ham bone (OR, 1 cup chopped ham)
2 tbsp melted butter
1 or 2 chopped onions (depending upon how much onion flavor you like)
1 cup chopped celery
2 cloves minced garlic
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth (OR 2 bouillon cubes in 2 cups water)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 whole clove
salt/pepper

Soak 2 cups of great northern beans overnight—
drain off water and add fresh water and
cook until tender. Drain off water.


Then melt 2 Tbsp. Butter in Sauce pan and add: Onion, celery and garlic---
Sauté until tender…..
Then add beans, ham bone, water, broth, tomatoes, bay leaf, clove and salt/pepper. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours (stirring occasionally).
Remove ham bone, bay leaf and clove. (also remove meat from ham bone, cut into small pieces and add back to soup).


This is a yummy soup
and is great served with corn bread.
You can also garnish with grated cheese, OR,
my family's favorite...COTTAGE CHEESE.

How Frugal is this meal?
Dried beans--.68

Tomatoes--.79

Celery/onions and garlic--1.00

ham--.25

broth, bay leaf, clove--.25

........................................

Total--$2.97


We fed
4 people 1 dinner and 3 people 1 lunch for this price.


7 comments:

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I haven't made it with tomatoes before, that looks delish! Another "Kimmie" recipe I'll be trying! We do love beans here too. They are so perfect for the weather we're having....COLD!

Connie said...

I really enjoy seeing your recipes. You have the instructions and the pictures in such a way that we can see and do without any questions. The soup looks delicious! My favorite Campbell's soup as a child was Bean with Bacon too!

Suzanne said...

You know, I have never had a bean soup before. There I said it, it's out there! I cannot believe that. Your recipe has tempted me to do it! I look at the beans in my food storage and think, oh man! What am I going to do in 30 years??? And now you have provided me with a solution! Thank you! Thank you very much! Hope your day is wonderful and full of happy moments! -Suzanne

Small House said...

OH YUM....You are quite the wife and mom!!!! I'm certain you have one happy family.

Thanks for sharing your recipes with us! This one is for sure a recipe to keep on file.

Like you, I'm a Bean and Bacon fan to. LOVE IT!!

Have a great day.
Sandra

Cheris said...

Hey!!! I'd probably actually eat that!!! It looks WAY better than the one I made... The left overs are still sitting in my freezer. I can't get myself to take it out and try it again either... blah!!

I also wanted to see if you noticed the visiting teaching message in this months Ensign. I went VTing today and I couldn't help but think of you and your post from a while back. It made me smile for most of the afternoon knowing you REALLY get it!!

I hope you're going good. Once of these days I'll have 10 minutes to write you back at work. Sorry I've been so lame!!

gigi said...

I love beans and have just started cooking with them after soaking them instead of out of a can. I can't wait to try this recipe. YUM!

gigi said...

I love beans and have just started cooking with them after soaking them instead of out of a can. I can't wait to try this recipe. YUM!