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| Perspective is everything. Most people will view the holiday ham and see a honey-glazed and clove studded, smoke kissed succulent haunch of tender flesh. I look at the same ham and see a soup bone with some meat on it. Oh, the days of expectation as the meat is consumed and the treasured bone is revealed! I ponder the myriad possibilities for its use over and over like a miser who counts his money again and again.
When we lived in Georgia, the decision was easily made. Southerners have traditionally eaten black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day to insure prosperity in the coming year. Slow simmered black-eyed peas were said to bring you a lucky day for each one you ate. The turnip greens served along side would bring you greenbacks all year long. It’s a fun tradition, but not, I think, the best use of the bone. This year the choice narrows to two possibilities: seventeen bean or split pea soup. Sue Kleber |
Seventeen Bean Soup 1 lb bean mix 1 ham bone 1/2 lb diced ham 1 large onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 3 bacon strips, diced fine 1 14 1/2 oz can tomatoes, diced 1 8 oz can tomato sauce |
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| 1/4 cup barley 6 cups water 1 tsp. cumin 2 tsp. hot New Mexico chili powder 1 tsp. oregano 2 TB “The Pepper Plant” sauce (optional) salt and pepper |
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| Soak the beans in water overnight or cover the beans with water, bring to a boil and let sit for an hour, adding water to keep beans covered. With either method, DRAIN the water. (The simmer-soak-drain method greatly reduces the unpleasant after effects associated with eating beans.) Sauté the onions, celery, and garlic in the bacon pieces until the onion is translucent. Add the other ingredients except for the salt and simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until the beans are tender. Season to taste with salt. | |||||||||||
| Split Pea Soup 1 lb green split peas 1 ham bone 1/2 lb diced ham 1 large onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced |
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| 3/4 cup diced carrot 3 bacon strips, sliced fine 6 cups water 2 tsp. celery salt pepper |
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| Sauté the onion and celery in the bacon until the onion is translucent. Add the other ingredients and cook for 1 1/2 hours or until done. |
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Courtesy of:
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Real Estate & Living
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www.somocorealestate.com
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