Delicious Cheap Meal - Ham and Bean Soup

Several years ago when I could barely afford to eat, I found myself desperately looking for a way I could make something cheap, nutritious, tasty, and that would last. I invented a bean soup recipe.

I buy a bag of mixed beans in the grocery store. I get a package of ham hocks or shanks. I sautee lots of onions, celery and carrots in olive oil with minced garlic. I add the beans, ham hocks or shanks, water, and 2 or three cans of diced tomatoes. I usually use the kind with Italian seasoning. Sometimes I used the stuff with chilli seasoning.

I cook it all day until the meat is falling off of the ham hocks. I take the hocks out of the pot, cut the meat off the bone, and get the marrow out of the cavities, and put all of the meat back into the pot. I never use the fat from the ham hocks. If you are worried about the fat, use shanks.

For under $5.00, I would make a dutch oven full, and could eat off of that for over a week. I often adjusted the seasonings by adding Mrs. Dash, but it is a pretty full proof recipe.

By Susan K. Beal

Ham and Bean Soup

• 2 cup dry great northern beans
• 2 1/2 qts. water
• 2 cups cooked ham (cubed)
• 1 cup carrots (sliced)
• 1 cup celery (sliced)
• 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 can whole tomatoes (cut up)

Directions

Rinse beans. Place in dutch oven with water. Bring to boil over high heat; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat, let stand 1 hour. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer; covered, 1 1/2 hours or until beans are done. Makes 12 servings.

By Robin

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