soup & bread on a coooooold day

Ham & Navy Bean Soup

1 C dried navy beans
1 meaty ham bone
1-2 bay leaves
minced garlic
onion (to taste)
salt & pepper to taste
1 C chopped potato
1 – 1 ½ C diced carrots & celery
1 C chopped ham

1 – Soak beans in cold water overnight OR bring beans & water to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let soak, covered for 1 hour.

2 – Drain and rinse beans. Return to pot with the hambone and cover with water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes to1 hour, until beans are desired softness. ( I like squishy bean soup.)

3 – Measure out 6-8 C of the bean water into the crockpot, adding more if necessary (1 use a ½ C ladle and just spoon it hot into the crockpot). Place minced garlic and bay leave(s) in the crockpot, season w/ salt & pepper. Add chopped veggies, beans and ham.

4 – Cook on high for 4 hours, then reduce to low. Add water when reducing heat, if needed. Discard ham bone and bay leaves, tearing off chunks of meat and adding them back into the soup. Mash beans a little to thicken just prior to serving, if desired.

*Note: All measurements are approximate. Keep in mind that I have a 6 qt crockpot and make 8+ servings, so halve if necessary for your fam! Serve with hot fresh bread or rolls.

Sour Cream, Onion & Chives Bread (2# bread machine)

1 lg. egg, room temp + enough water to equal 1 C liquid
¾ C room temp sour cream
2 Tbl oil
2 ¼ tsp salt
2 T sugar
4 C bread flour
1 ½ Tbl dehydrated onion
2 Tbl dried chives (4T fresh)
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (I think that’s 1 pkg)

Layer in your bread machine pan according to its instructions. Set on the regular / basic / white bread cycle and wait. I love my bread machine!!!