Healthy Ham & Bean

Really tasty and simple soup. It's even better the next day!

• Ready In: 3 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 15

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 lb  turkey ham (I like Jennie-o)
• 2  lbs pinto beans (soaked over night)
• 1 1⁄2 cups carrots, chopped
• 1  cup celery, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup onion, chopped
• 12  cups  chicken stock (or water with bouillon)
• 2 -3  tablespoons  pork gravy mix (whatever is in 1 envelope)
• 3  bay leaves
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Drain and rinse soaked beans.
2. Add beans and stock to good sized stock pot over high heat and then dissolve the pork gravy mix into the broth.
3. Add carrots, celery, onion and bay leaves.
4. Cut ham into 6 or 8 thick pieces and place in soup. I like to keep it in larger pieces while to soup cooks so that it keeps some of its flavor and does not completely disintegrate!
5. Bring soup to a boil and then lower heat and simmer at least 3 hours, and up to 8.
6. After cooking remove large pieces of ham and cut to bite size.
7. Salt and pepper to taste.