This was some SERIOUSLY tasty ham & beans!! I made it twice and the first time was a bit bland so the second time I took some other reviewers suggestions and used chicken broth instead of water (I used 2 cans) and put in 2 bay leaves. It was HEAVENLY. I couldn't get enough. I used a small turkey ham to cut back on cals/fat and it was delish. YUMMO!
As suggested by other reviewers, I jazzed mine up a bit, for fear of it being too bland. I added 7 cups of water, 3 medium sized ham hocks, along with the 2 cups cubed ham, 2 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 4 chicken bouillon cubes, and the leaves from the celery. I let it cook on high in my crock pot for 10 hours. I wished I could have let it cook on low for 18 hours or so as some reviewers suggested, but I just didn’t have the time. Luckily, I didn’t matter! Yummy! (Only a little salty – next time I’ll add only 1 tsp of salt with the ham hocks) It went great with some Jiffy cornbread, and passed the boyfriend test with flying colors! (He said it was BETTER than mom used to make!) I’m giving the recipe 3 stars due to the lack of spices. However the reviewers get 5 stars because I don’t think it would have been nearly as good without their recommendations. Overall it averages out at four stars.
I did not soak the beans at all just rinsed them and then put them in the crock-pot and they turned out soft and creamy. I did take the suggestions from other reviewers and added 2 bay leaves to the pot and I added about a teaspoon of salt but I think it could have used even more.I was afraid of over-salting since I used 2 ham steaks for the ham and those tend to be salty. Next time I try this I think I might try substituting chicken broth for the water for a little extra flavor. Overall a good recipe.
I have been married for almost forty years and I am still a lousy cook. I'm good with machines though. This recipe was seriously delicious and easy enough for a recipe challenged person like me. I followed the recipe but used variations suggested by others. I used one of those container thingies of chicken broth one teaspoon of pepper and two bay leaves. Where have you been all my married life Grandma B?? So good and so easy.
My family loved this soup! I used small white beans with 7 cups water. I added 2 bay leaves 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper. I kept it on high for 2 hours and on low for 8 1/2 hours. I will definitely make this again with only one change. I will use 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tsp of pepper.
Fantastic! This was the first time I made ham & bean soup - was a little hesitant at first by the looks of it but it turned out great & my boyfriend loved it too. I used great northern beans eliminated the carrots & cut up everything the night before (except for potatoes) & put it all in my slow cooker in the morning (except for potatoes)with 7 cups water. I added 2 bay leaves & salt/pepper. At noon I cut up (3) potatoes boiled for about 5 minutes then added to soup. I kept it on high all day & turned down to low the last couple hours. I will definitely make this again!
This soup was fantastic! The only thing I did different was to substitute chicken broth instead of the water. (My husband doesn't like sage so that addition would be a personal choice.) We had two meals from it (the two of us); I sent my mom a jar (she loved it also); and my husband took the remainder to work where there have been numerous recipe requests. He is a fireman and if they gave it a "thumbs up"--you know it's good!
A great tasting soup plus it is super easy. I cooked mine about 14 hours in the crock pot to get the beans really soft and the soup thick. I thought about adding a ham hock but didn't deciding it would only add more fat. The flavor of the soup was great without it. I did add a few teaspoons of ham soup base.
Very good bean soup! I used a left-over ham bone and added a can of chicken broth and two extra bay leaves. Next time I'll use a few extra potatoes as they give the soup an extra-nice touch. Until now my bean soup has been mediocre at best...thanks for a great recipe!
I used chicken broth instead of water like some of the others recommended. Hubby said it was good it was a little different than we were use to. I would make again but leaving the potatoes out.
