Cook Like Chuck

Now that it is winter, we eat soup every week. This ham and black bean soup is high on the rotation. It takes longer than some other soups to make, but it is delicious and filling. Perfect for the cold, windy weather.

Ingredients

• 1 Cottage ham
• 1 lb of dried beans, pre-soaked or boiled
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 medium onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Put the whole cottage ham in your soup pot and put in enough water to cover. Simmer the ham for 45 minutes.
2. Remove the ham and set aside. Save the remaining liquid in the pot.
3. Dice the onion, celery, green pepper, and carrots. In a separate skillet, add the oil and veggies, then sweat them.
4. Add the black beans, spices and the ham liquid in the pot with the sweated veggies.
5. Dice the ham you set aside earlier. Add it to the pot.
6. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for an hour. Add more water if it gets thicker than you prefer.
7. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the soup with diced red onions, sour cream, or shredded cheese.

Vegetarian or vegan? – Leave the ham out, add more carrots and celery, and use vegetable stock for the liquid.