Ham and Bean Soup-Slow Cooker Style

Planning ahead so dinner isn't stressful is key for me! I try to cram as much in as I can before 8 am because if I don't it's just not going to happen! I've been freezer cleaning and found a ham bone from the holidays. Bean soup it is!

Ingredients/Directions:

Soak a regular sized bag of pinto beans in warm water while your getting ready in the morning

Drain and throw into crock pot along with a ham bone (or 1 lb smoked ham from the store, chopped)

Add in:

1 chopped onion

4 garlic cloves

2 bay leaves

Cover beans with water almost to the top of the slow cooker

Turn it on high and let it cook for 6-7 hrs!

Vegetarian 3 Bean Chili

Chili! I'll take it any way I can get it! buttttt I gotta say I don't know if I'll ever stray away from this recipe, it turned out that good! You don't miss the meat at all! You can use any mix of beans that you like. I opt for organic canned beans as well as tomatoes. 

Ingredients:

1 green bell pepper

1 sweet onion

4 garlic cloves

1 can chickpeas

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can fire roasted tomatoes

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

1 1/2 cans water

2 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. garlic powder

1 1/2 Tbs. cumin

Salt/pepper

Instructions: 

Sauté pepper, onion, and garlic in 2-3 Tbs. olive oil. Add in all spices except cinnamon, and drained beans. Sauté for a few minutes. Add in tomatoes and ketchup. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. To finish add in 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Half Homemade Veggie Soup

Thinking about making soup can be overwhelming! Stick to half homemade soup which takes advantage of canned organic tomato soup as the base! 

Sauté 3 cups of whatever veggies you have on hand in olive oil. Example: carrots, onions, celery, and a little bit of chopped leeks

Add in 1 can of Amy's Organics low sodium tomato soup

Add in 1/2 can water

Add in 1 can of stewed tomatoes

Let simmer until veggies are tender

Lastly to make it hearty add in 1/2 a package of quinoa pasta