Good morning! 2015! Wow, it seems strange to be writing that. I feel as if just a few weeks ago I was wrapping gifts and baking tasty treats to send off to friends and family.
I feel a bit discombobulated this month, as I will be spending the Winter at home and not with my parents and friends in Wisconsin, as I have done the last three years. Don’t get me wrong, I will not miss the unending amounts of snow but I will miss the time with my parents, siblings and friends.
This past week we had a bit of a chill in the air and decided that as Winter had “set in” we would warm ourselves with some hearty White Bean and Ham Soup. I love soup and like to have at least one pot a week on the stove in the winter, it makes the house cosy and toasty and is always nice to have something to warm the belly.
This soup could not be easier, you can make it on the stove or in a crock pot, either way it turns out perfect!
White Bean and Ham Soup
2 lbs dried beans, soaked overnight and then culled
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
5 clover of garlic diced
1 ham bone from a spiral ham or 11/2 cups of diced ham
6 cups of chicken/vegetable broth
2 cups of water
2 springs fresh rosemary
1 spring fresh thyme
4 fresh bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste, AFTER the beans are cooked
Directions:
Turn the crock-pot to high, add the olive oil, onions, and garlic and the chopped ham or ham bone. Rinse the pre-soaked beans, making sure to get rid of the stones. Add the beans to the pot, and then add the broth and water, making sure that the beans are covered by at least two inches of water. Then throw in the fresh thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Put on the lid and cook for a minimum of 4 hours, or until the beans are soft. Some pots make take more or less time.
Once the beans are soft, salt and pepper the soup to taste. Serve with fresh crusty bread and enjoy!
I hope that you stay warm and have a wonderful week!
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I was just about to make a Tuscan white bean soup yesterday – I had made cornbread and had it sitting on the counter to cool. I bring out my pot, reach into the pantry for the beans….NO BEANS! And it was too cold to run out to the store to get any! So I'm getting my beans this week and making my version on the weekend!
No Wisconsin this year my friend? I do hope that your time at home will be productive,soothing and inspiring.
Now back to school for me this morning. That was one fine TWO WEEK vacation for me! Happy 2015! Anita
It should only take four or five months to get used to saying and writing 2015.
This looks SO warm and tasty – perfect for a cold winter's day! I am making a big pot of chicken soup tonight and we will eat it all week. 🙂
Hope you are staying warm and that you have a lovely week, my dear! xoxo
Hello and happy 2015 to you! That soup looks so good and hearty, my mom used to make that and it was always such a great comfort food in the colder months. Hope your new year is off to a great start….