This week I was looking for something that used food I already had at home and I didn't have to spend much time thinking about. After flipping through the cupboard above my stove, , getting stuff out to make some muffins I spotted a jar of mixed beans that had gotten shoved to the back of the cabinet and forgotten about. This started the wheels turning on what I could do for my needs for the week.
So with an onion from my basket and a smoked turkey leg I picked up my last trip through the grocery, I had a solid dish that would feed us for more than one meal and was easy to pull off.
Do to personal choice, we make a point to limit the amount pork products we consume, so for me using smoked turkey legs provide the same texture and flavor of a smoked ham and is just as easy to use. The turkey is my "Ham" in my "Ham" & Beans
"Ham" & Beans
2 lbs dried bean
1 Onion - rough chopped
Bay leaf
Smoked Turkey Leg (or a chunk of ham)
Salt & pepper to taste
Prep beans with regular or quick method (use that following link if you need help with how to prep you beans)
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/food-guides/bean
Take your prepped beans, rinse well and place in 5-6 quart slow cooker (crockpot) with the onion & bay leaf, cover with water and cook on High for several hours until the bean are almost cooked completely though. Add meat, salt and pepper and allow to continue to cook until bean are completely cooked through. The turkey legs should be falling off the bone at that point. Remove the turkey, and pull the meat from the bones and skin. Cut up large pieces and and return to the pot, stir in and check for seasoning.
After all was said and done, we had rich bowl of the beans as a nice lunch and we have over a gallon left for dinners later this week, and if we are not in the mood, it can easily go in the freezer.
This is one of those dishes that goes well with crusty bread or a batch of cornbread dripping with butter and honey.
Fall and winter are my favorites times of the year when it comes to food!
So with an onion from my basket and a smoked turkey leg I picked up my last trip through the grocery, I had a solid dish that would feed us for more than one meal and was easy to pull off.
Do to personal choice, we make a point to limit the amount pork products we consume, so for me using smoked turkey legs provide the same texture and flavor of a smoked ham and is just as easy to use. The turkey is my "Ham" in my "Ham" & Beans
2 lbs dried bean
1 Onion - rough chopped
Bay leaf
Smoked Turkey Leg (or a chunk of ham)
Salt & pepper to taste
Prep beans with regular or quick method (use that following link if you need help with how to prep you beans)
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/food-guides/bean
Take your prepped beans, rinse well and place in 5-6 quart slow cooker (crockpot) with the onion & bay leaf, cover with water and cook on High for several hours until the bean are almost cooked completely though. Add meat, salt and pepper and allow to continue to cook until bean are completely cooked through. The turkey legs should be falling off the bone at that point. Remove the turkey, and pull the meat from the bones and skin. Cut up large pieces and and return to the pot, stir in and check for seasoning.
This is one of those dishes that goes well with crusty bread or a batch of cornbread dripping with butter and honey.
Fall and winter are my favorites times of the year when it comes to food!
