Ham Bean Soup

Wow this soup is such comfort food for me. Especially served with cornbread made from the $0.39 blue box mix. This was always my favorite thing about the Honey Baked Ham my parents did for Christmas and Easter every year (although ham and eggs is a close second).

• Ready In: 4 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) bag  15 bean soup mix, seasoning packet discarded
• 1  tablespoon  dried onion flakes
• 1  teaspoon garlic powder
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 1  medium ham bone
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2  cups cooked ham, cubed

Directions

1. Put the beans in a big pot, cover with lots of cold water, and soak over night.
2. The next day, pour the water off, and cover the beans with fresh cold water.
3. Add the dried onion, garlic powder, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Back the heat off and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Add the ham bone to the pot, and simmer for another 1 to 2 hours.
5. Add the can of tomatoes including their juice, and the ham pieces. Simmer for another 30 minutes.
6. At this point you may want to mash the beans with a potato masher if it needs to be thickened some.