I cannot believe it!! Newsflash!!! I actually, finally, like ham ‘n bean soup now! Still in shock. I hated that dang stuff my whole entire life. Wouldn’t go NEAR it. I could make it just fine and all, but never took the time to really make it. You know? Just the bare, basic, minimum kind. Northern beans, leftover Christmas ham, water, onions, salt and pepper. That was pretty much it. The old-fashioned, down-home kind that included the meaty bone and a ham hock or two.
And please don’t get me wrong, not dissing it at all, it just wasn’t my glass of sweet tea if you get my meaning. Not everything is for everybody.
And it wasn’t the ham part that I didn’t care for, (LOVE me some ham!), but it was the beans mostly, and the whole, pretty much bland, vat of soup that didn’t have a whole lot of flavor really, excepting for the obnoxious amount of pepper “to make it taste better”, that just made me gag even thinking about it. Noooooo thank you. And the dry, “pea gravel” cornbread that accompanied it wasn’t a whole lot better, either.
Soooooo, anyways, I decided to play. I didn’t want to ruin it mind you, take anything away from it’s authenticity by adding a bunch of junk just to add it and end up trying too hard and over-doing it. Not the plan at all. I just wanted it to taste like it could, like I hoped it would, like it should. And that it did. BOY. Did it ever.
I really had fun on that icy-cold Saturday morning, playing in my cozy kitchen in my flannel jammies and slippers, with my curious and greedy kitty under my feet constantly hoping for an “accidental” drop of a piece of ham now and then. And I think the whole, warm ‘n fuzzy atmosphere put me in the mood to finally just take it home! Really set my mind to thinking about what I wanted it to taste like. And not breathe a single WORD of what I was doing, to my unsuspecting hubby! 😉 If he knew what I was doing to “his” pot of soup, it might not have ever happened. Ha! Sometimes, overly traditional just needs a sledgehammer.
Anyways, all’s well that end’s well and this pot of ham ‘n bean soup ROCKED. It rockabillied all the way to the Appalachian Mountains!! My southern-midwestern accent even started coming back! Ok, that might not be a good thing. But trust me when I tell you, you’ve never had bean soup quite this good. I promise you’ll love it. Even my hubby, a.k.a. “Mr. Picky Pants”, was “quite pleased” and made a point of asking several times if I had written down the recipe! Thankfully, I did. 😉
So, now I’m very happy to share it with you all! I do hope you enjoy it as much as us and turn ham ‘n bean haters like myself into lovers instead! 😉 😀 Perfect timing with this nasty arctic blast vortex thing slamming the country, and leftovers in the freezer from the holidays to use up! The ONLY thing I like about cold weather – – the soups!! Have a wonderful day all, and be sure to check back tomorrow, because I revamped some homemade cornbread to boot! 😉 Take care and stay warm!! 🙂
*UPDATE! I have recently taken this to an even higher level! YEP! I use Better Than Bouillon’s Ham Base, and Minerva Dairy’s Smoked Butter!! And it’s AMAZING!!! Wow!!
Leftover soup will be VERY thick once chilled. DO NOT add any liquid when reheating! It will melt as it reheats and become perfectly soup-consistency again.
Hearty Ham 'n Bean Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Ernie Payne
Sunday 27th of December 2015
CAN YOU EVER PUT TOO MANY BEANS IN BEAN SOUP?, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A BIG ENOUGH CONTAINER TO COOK IT IN???
Kelly
Monday 28th of December 2015
Ernie, as long as you have a big enough pot, (or more than one pot), you can cook as many beans as your heart desires! :) Just make sure you multiply the rest of the ingredients to the same amount so that it doesn't come out bland. :)
Cindys Recipes and Writings
Tuesday 14th of January 2014
Your ham and bean soup looks so inviting! Thanks for sharing with us at Foodie Friends Friday!
Kelly
Tuesday 14th of January 2014
Thanks, Cindy! Can't wait to hear what the next category is! :) Thanks for having me! :)
Joanne T Ferguson
Saturday 11th of January 2014
YUM YUM YUM Kelly!!! GREAT photo! Thanks for sharing at the Foodie Friends Friday Healthy Choices Party! Cheers! Joanne
Kelly
Saturday 11th of January 2014
You're most welcome, Joanne! Hope I did it right! :D
Sue Lau / A Palatable Pastime
Friday 10th of January 2014
Nice photo. The bean soup recipe sounds very hearty and delish! ~Sue
Kelly
Saturday 11th of January 2014
Thank you very much, Sue! This is the very first time I've actually liked it! Wish I would've taken the time to play with it years ago! :)