It is so hot here in Florida today.
It has been so hot here in Florida……Whew! I had to make myself go outside to the Secret Garden to water my plants in pots.
The sun was shining bright and no sign of rain which happens a lot at my house…..although earlier today, there were cloudy and gloomy skies in other parts of our city as I ran my errands.
Here, in Florida, rain could be in the forecast….but the rain cell “splits”….and leaves us high and dry in the middle.
Have you ever had that happen where you live?
Sooooo I decided to water just in case it didn’t rain, although the sweat dripping from every pore of my body could have been a sprinkler for my plants.
But then you know what happened…of course it rained…..but now the sun is shining again.
And the plants in my pots are happy.
Speaking of pots.
Growing up in the Midwest, Mondays were wash day…yes, in those days, one day was devoted to washing, drying and ironing clothes…..and my Mother always had a pot of Ham and Bean Soup simmering on the stove.
An Easy meal for a very busy day! The beans swell up and the skins get sort of crinkly before they become a smooth white bean.
By the way, if there were a lot of clothes to iron, they were sprinkled down with water from a capped Coca Cola bottle…. and rolled up and placed in a basket to be ironed on Tuesday. I did not grow up with permanent press until my high school years … and Mother had me ironing shirts, jeans, and linens! If I was at grandma’s house…we ironed sheets and pillowcases. I always loved sleeping on those crisp ironed sheets.
But not enough to starch and iron them these days…..;(
If you lived in the Midwest, Ham and Beans was a staple…A perfect meal for a busy day.
The beans must be picked,…no I don’t mean go to the garden and pick the beans, although I have done that many times….we always had green beans to pick in the garden.
No, I am talking about picking dried beans from the bag you buy at the grocery store.
I usually “pick” the beans that are in the bag, by spilling them on the counter….(this time it is ok to “spill the beans” 😉
And… using my fingers I move the beans around the counter, discarding any beans that are discolored or any little rocks that happen to have been packed with the beans. This is called “picking”. I have done it so many times that I can do it quickly…sort of like counting and separating pennies, dimes and nickels. 😉
This should be done with any dried bean. Never just dump dried beans from the package into a pan without picking or rinsing…you never know what you might bite down on! 😉
After “picking” the beans, I put the “good beans” in a colander and rinse well. Then I add the beans to a pot of water.
My Mother and Grandmothers’ usually served Ham and Beans with home made cornbread or home made dinner rolls.
I love them served both ways and have continued the tradition with my family. This is a meal all by itself!
To cut down on prep time, I use a pressure cooker. The Ham and Beans are done in about 30 minutes…the traditional way takes about 3-5 hours and the pot must be watched or you will have burnt beans.
Not that I haven’t burnt the beans a time or two….! 🙂 I think most cooks have made a dash to the kitchen to check the beans and add more water, only to find the beans are scorched on the bottom. A pressure cooker is fail proof in the regard.
A slow Cooker can also be used….just plan ahead and cook the beans for about 8 hours. Any bean can be substituted for Navy Beans….Pinto Beans, Black Beans, Lima Beans….
These days we do laundry as needed…not on a certain day.
Did your mom have a certain day to do laundry? Tell me about it, please.
And guess what??
It’s raining again.
Have a great day….no matter the weather.
- 1 pound dried Great Northern beans
- 2 pounds smoked ham hocks, (or leftover ham, chopped in pieces)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- black pepper
- In large heavy soup pot, combine beans and 2 1/2 quarts water.
- Discard any beans that float to the surface. (see note below regarding the picking of beans)
- Bring to a boil, cover, leaving lid ajar to prevent boil over.
- Continue to boil 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow pot to stand, covered 1 hour.
- Add ham hocks, onion, garlic; cover and bring to boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer 2 hours.
- Continue simmering, at least 1 hour or longer until the beans are tender.
- Remove ham hocks, separate meat from fat and bones.
- Dice the ham and return to soup.
- Discard fat and bones.
- Season to taste with black pepper and more salt if needed.
- I usually "pick" the beans by opening the bag, and spilling them on the counter...I then use my fingers to move the beans around, discarding any beans that are discolored or any little rocks that happen to have been packed with the beans. This is called "picking". This should be done with any dried bean. Never just dump dried beans from the package without "picking" or rinsing...you never know what you might bite down on! 😉
- After "picking" the beans, I put the "good beans" in a colander and rinse well. Then I add the beans to a pot of water.
- You may also add a variation by adding one or all of the following veggies... 1 large potato, pared & cubed, 2 ribs celery, finely chopped, and1 large carrot, shredded.
- In the Midwest, My Mother and Grandmothers made Ham and Beans regularly. They usually served them with home made cornbread or home made dinner rolls. I love them served both ways and have continued the tradition with my family.
- To cut down on prep time, I use a pressure cooker. The Ham and Beans are done in about 30 minutes...the traditional way takes about 3-5 hours and the pot must be watched or you will have burnt beans. Not that I haven't burnt the beans a time or two.... 🙂 I think most cooks have made a dash to the kitchen to check the beans and add more water, only to find the beans are scorched on the bottom. A pressure cooker is fail proof in the regard. A slow Cooker works well too. Any type of bean works, Pinto, Black, Lima...all good beans with Ham.
Hi Kari, I can almost smell the soup and I can taste it with cornbread. We have been getting pop up showers all around, hit or miss at my house. I remember the coke bottle, my mother called it sprinkling the clothes. I did a lot of the ironing as a teen, and yes we ironed sheets and pillowcases. Thanks for the memories. Happy 4th!
Thank you Pam for stopping by…I don’t know why but I usually managed to burn myself on the iron. hahaha!!! maybe that was my excuse. Have a happy 4th and hugs to you and yours.
I have tea towels my mom made that say wash on Monday, bake on Saturday, etc. 😊 I hang my sheets on the line and iron the pillowcases still. Ham and beans are big if you were raised by a southern mother too, and one of my first kitchen chores was when I was told to “look the beans” which you midwesterners call pick the beans. I recently said to my little granddaughter “you can look the beans for me” and she answered no thank you! I never knew it was a choice.
Pamela you brought tears to my eyes, because I had forgotten the tea towels. Yes, Yes, Yes…they were embroidered with each day of the week. My mom and grandmothers, all three had them and I learned to embroider using those patterns. Thank you so much for the memories.
Isn’t it neat to know different words have the same meanings…. and I love your “look” the beans.
Times have certainly changed, because when I was growing up…I didn’t have choices on chores and we raised out kids the same way. It was expected and one did it.
Thank you so much for your comments.
We love pinto beans and white beans (my Granny called those Navy beans). Our older daughter grew up when are budget was quite small and she learned to love them too. But when the princess came along we had a little more money so she would not touch them.😍 so I didn’t make them for years. Recently my husband and I decided it would be a wonderful meal for the two of us along with cornbread of course.
Yes, I still wash on Monday. It worked best for me through the years to have a schedule like that. I was a foster mom to newborns for many years. So some days one job like that was all I got done in between feedings and taking care of my own girls.😀
Oh Nancy, God Bless you for your fostering newborns.. .they are all so precious and to give them such a wonderful home for the beginning of their little lives. It takes a special person and I am not a bit surprised that you are a special person.
I LOVE any kind of beans…Navy beans and Pinto beans are my favorites and they can fill you up on cold days…or hot days too. Luckily, my kids all love beans of any kind…but their kids are a bit more picky. Hugs and Blessings to your home from ours and have a safe and happy 4th of July.
Ham and Beans are good anytime…Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall.
Luv ya
Mom
Still is one of the MANY favorites from you!!!
You are right Sandy….I love the fresh air for drying clothes! The smell is amazing!
Me
Thanks for the memories, Kari. I definitely remember Monday being wash day. I used to help hang the clothes on the lines outdoors. Fresh air is the best fragnance for clothes. Smile!