Ham Stock & Veggie Soup

I've had lots of meaty ham bones lately to cook with - this most recent one from my son's house and our early Christmas with him and his family ... naturally he saved the bone with lots of meat on it for me!  So I cooked the ham stock, let it chill so the fat would rise to the top and solidify. The next day I removed the stock from the refrigerator, skimmed off the fat and finished the Ham and Veggie Soup.

My husband does not care for ham and bean soup, so this recipe was a way for me to get him to enjoy it. Use any vegetables you want in this ... but be sure to use fresh or frozen, especially if canning it.  If you use canned vegetables, they will turn mushy, which is not what you want.  This soup also freezes very well.

Recipe
Ingredients
3-4 quarts Ham Stock (follow the highlighted recipe minus the chili powder and red pepper flakes)
1 onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 - 14.5 oz. can diced petite tomatoes with juice (or any canned diced tomatoes)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups frozen green beans
2 cups frozen corn
Sliced carrots
(other veggies could be lima beans, green peas, really anything you like)
Reserved ham meat from stock
2 -3 tsp. course-ground black pepper
2-3 tsp. garlic powder
1-2 tsp. seasoned salt (I use Lawry's - or make your own)

Method
In a large stock pot, bring ham stock, onion, celery, tomatoes and spices to a boil, reduce heat and simmer approx. 30 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.

Add the remaining vegetables, reserved ham meat from stock, adjust seasonings to taste and cook over low heat until all vegetables are tender. Serve immediately.

GREAT with biscuits, cornbread or crusty bread.

Canning directions:  Cook ham stock, onion, celery, tomatoes and spices as above.  Add remaining vegetables raw to each canning jar, top with reserved ham meat from stock, and evenly distribute among jars. Ladle hot stock over top and seal with canning rings and lids. Your ratio should be half solids to half liquid in each jar.

Process jars in a pressure canner 1 hour and 15-30 minutes at 10 lbs. pressure.

Yield is approx. 4 quart jars

Enjoy,

Mary

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Cinnamon Rolls with Sticky Topping

Searching and tweaking several cinnamon roll recipes I had accumulated over the years, I spent many days/months/years playing around with this to get just the right combintation.  Happy to say I finally found the absolute best combination of big, soft, light rolls with a great sticky caramel 
topping!  These are a huge hit in my family!

Dough
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 package active-dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour (I use 1/2 all-purpose and 1/2 whole wheat)
1 egg

Filling
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Sticky Caramel Topping
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup slightly melted butter
2 tbls corn syrup
1/2 cup chopped pecans
pour into  13x9 in" pan sprayed with cooking spray to coat bottom

Heat milk in microwave just to boiling.   Remove and add shortening, sugar and salt; let cool to lukewarm (about 10 minutes).  In a small bowl, add yeast to the 1/2 cup warm water and mix to dissolve.  In a large mixing bowl, add 1 cup of the flour, the cooled milk mixture, the yeast and the egg.  Mix well with a spoon.  Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, mix well and turn out onto a floured board. Knead about 10 times until dough is not sticky, adding more flour if needed.  Oil or grease bowl (I spray with cooking spray), add dough and turn to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place 1 1/2 hours. 
Punch down and turn dough out onto floured board; roll out into 17 x 9 rectangle.  Mix the filling brown sugar, melted butter and cinnamon together. Spread dough with filling, sprinkle with pecans and raisins (optional), and roll up dough starting at wide end. Cut into 12 equal pieces. Mix sticky caramel topping ingredients all together and pour into prepared pan.  Place rolls cut-side down on top of sticky caramel topping, evenly spacing each roll. Cover lightly with a kitchen towl and let rise again until doubled, approx. 45-60 minutes. Bake in 375 oven for 30 minutes or until rolls are lightly browned and sticky caramel topping is bubbly.  Immediately invert into storage container, or onto platter/large plate, scraping remaining sticky caramel topping on top of cinnamon rolls (sticky caramel topping is extremely hot; be careful when inverting pan). 

Serve warm!

Options - replace the corn syrup in the sticky caramel topping with maple syrup for a different taste!

For freezing - wrap each cinnamon roll in plastic wrap and store in zip-loc bags in freezer.

 

 

 

Enjoy,
Mary

 

 

Cheesy Ham, Potato and Broccoli Soup

Updated and Revised October 2019

Oh I just love making homemade stock! Today I had a meaty ham bone I used to make some yummy Ham Stock.  In the stock pot went the ham bone, celery, carrots, green onions, a large, fresh tomato cut into quarters (I don't always use a fresh tomato, but I had one today), and water to cover all. The only spice I added was some black pepper.  Several hours later (about 3-4 hours simmering) was this delicious Ham Stock I used for this soup, then I pressure canned the remaining stock for use another time.

Of course you don't have to make and use ham stock. You can easily use chicken stock to make this soup. Add some meaty chunks of ham (leftover ham is a great to use in this soup), fresh broccoli florets, cubed potatoes and cheese and you'll have a hearty, delicious soup your family will love.

RECIPE
Ingredients
2 cups Ham Stock (or chicken stock)
1 cup heavy cream
4 tbls. butter
1/3 cup flour
4-5 small potatoes, peeled and diced (I use red potatoes)
1/2-1 cup diced cooked ham meat
1 cup fresh broccoli, diced small
1 stalk celery, diced small
1 small onion, diced small
1 tsp minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Method
Melt butter in the bottom of a large stock pot, whisk in the flour to make a roux.  Whisk in ham stock (or chicken stock), and cream; cook over medium heat until slightly thickened.

Add ham meat, celery, onion, garlic and potatoes and continue cooking until potatoes are done; stir in cheese and cook until melted. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.

Add broccoli and cook until just al dente, 5-7 minutes.

Serve immediately with hard crusty rolls or bread, cornbread or biscuits. Delicious!

Yield:  4-6 servings

Enjoy,
Mary

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Crab Balls with Remoulade Sauce

Updated and Revised December 2021

I love seafood of all kinds, so it didn't take much convincing for me to try to make these little appetizer crab balls. Simple recipe, easy to do, and they taste fantastic! Love the combination of the Old Bay seasoning with the crab meat, and the mayonnaise is just enough to bind them together.  Light, fluffy, delicious!

RECIPE
Ingredients:

1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs

1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning 

1 cup mayonnaise

1 pound crab meat (two 6-oz. cans. crab meat, drained can be substituted for fresh)

Method:

Mix first 3 ingredients together; gently fold in crab meat and shape into small balls.  Fry in oil in a heavy skillet (or deep fryer) for a few minutes, or until evenly browned. Drain on paper towels. Serve with Remoulade Sauce.

Remoulade Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tsp lemon juice

3 tsp chopped parsley

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tsp horseradish

1 dash paprika

Method:

Mix all ingredients together until well blended; chill several hours in the refrigerator. Serve chilled with crab balls, crab cakes, shrimp or any seafood you want to.

As seen on Meal Plan Monday

Enjoy,
Mary

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Beef Back Ribs

I'm not sure exactly when my husband started making these Beef Back Ribs, but oh my goodness, they are falling-off-the-bone delicious. They taste like prime rib "bites," as that's what they are cut from, the Prime Rib or Standing Rib Roast. 

During the winter we bake them in the oven. In the warmer weather, we would cook them on the grill.

We serve these with twice-baked potatoes and veggies, but they are also very good with baked beans and corn-on-the-cob.

RECIPE

Ingredients
Beef Back Ribs (typically sold in packages of 2 racks of ribs)

Rub mixture - he doesn't measure (brown sugar, fresh-cut rosemary, garlic, course-ground black pepper and paprika)

Method
Rub ribs liberally with rub mixture. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil, sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake or grill over low heat approx. 2 hours (oven temp 275-300).

Unwrap ribs from foil, place on baking sheet or grill rack and cook until done, usually 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy,

Mary

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Easy He-Man Spanish Rice

Oh, this brings back so many memories as my dad used to make this when I was just a girl!  You can make this as "mild" or as "spicy" as you want it. Super-easy, one pan dish that cooks in just a few minutes, perfect for a weeknight meal.  Serve with cornbread and a side salad and you have dinner.


Recipe

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 can tomato soup
1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes, with liquid
3/4 can water
1-2 tsp. garlic powder
1-2 tsp. course-ground black pepper
1-2 tsp. chili powder (or more to taste)
1-2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp. hot sauce
1 tbls. Worcestershire sauce
1 cup cooked rice
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top of each serving.

Method
Brown ground beef in large fry pan or electric skillet; add diced onion and saute a few minutes or until onion is soft. Add tomato soup and next 7 ingredients.

Cover and simmer 20-30 minutes. Add rice and simmer, covered, until rice is hot and all ingredients are well mixed.  Serve with some shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Adjust seasonings to your taste - omit red pepper flakes and hot sauce to make it more mild and "kid friendly."

Enjoy,
Mary
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Italian-Style Turkey Minestrone Soup

Well, it's taken me several days to get this post up due to WORK ... my real job which is Monday-Friday!  Soooooo, finally, I got it all done!  This recipe starts with making your own Turkey Bone Broth. In this instance I had 3 turkey breast carcasses I was using, so I made the stock, cooled it to skim the fat layer off, then used all the loveliness to make the soup.  Because I was looking for something different, I researched several recipes, then simply made this my own.  The soup base is awesome tasting and the resulting finished product exceed my expectations. So, next time you're looking for something different, give this a try!

Recipe
Ingredients
2 quarts Turkey Bone Broth (preferably homemade)
1- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
4 stalks celery, roughly chopped (I also used some of the green, leafy tops)
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. course-ground black pepper
2 tsp. oregano leaves
2 cups chopped reserved turkey meat from stock (or chicken meat)
2 cups french-cut frozen green beans (fresh or frozen work best)

Method
In a large stock pot, add turkey stock, tomatoes with juice, celery, onion and spices. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for an hour or so until vegetables are very tender. Adjust seasonings to taste.

In 4 quart-sized canning jars, place equal amounts of turkey meat and green beans.  Ladle soup over top, evenly distributing the tomatoes, onions and celery in each with stock.  Leave 1/2" head space. 

Seal jars with lids and pressure can quart jars 90 minutes at 11 lbs. pressure. Remove from heat and allow to cool down completely before removing lid (lid locking mechanism will retract allowing lid to be opened). Once cooled down, remove jars and allow to sit on a towel on your kitchen counter 24 hours undisturbed.  Jars are sealed when the button in the middle of the lid is completely depressed.

This soup can also easily be frozen.

Serve over noodles or rice, if desired.

Enjoy,
Mary

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BEST-EVER Fried Chicken

Updated July 2019

Oh my goodness!  I've made a lot of fried chicken in my time, trying all kinds of different recipes, double dipping, triple dipping, making a batter to soak them in and more. Sometimes the very simplest ingredient is the one that makes it stand-out.

Ever have fried chicken you made at home, and the coating always came off when you ate it, no matter what recipe you tried?  Yep, happened to me all the time, until tonight! And what was the secret ingredient that solved the mystery of the coating sticking on the chicken?  Self-rising flour!  Are you kidding me?  Yep, you may have known this, but I did not until today.  

Coating is nice and crispy, plus stays on the chicken and does not fall off when you cut into it ... awesomeness!! Now I don't have a bite of chicken with coating on the side. I only wish I'd known this like 30 years ago!  LOL!

RECIPE
Ingredients

3 eggs (preferably farm fresh)

1/3 cup water

1/4-1/3 cup hot red pepper sauce, optional (I use Texas Pete)

2 cups self-rising flour (make your own by adding 3 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt to AP flour)

1 teaspoon course-ground black pepper

1 tsp garlic salt (not powder) or more to taste

4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts, split in half (8 pieces) or 1 fryer chicken, cut into pieces

Oil, for frying (I use peanut oil)

Method
In a medium-size bowl, beat the eggs with the water. Add enough hot sauce so the egg mixture is bright orange. 

In a large zip-top bag (gallon size), combine the flour, garlic salt, and course-ground black pepper. 

Dip the chicken in the egg mixture, drop several pieces at a time in the zip-top bag; seal bag and shake to coat well in the flour mixture.

Place chicken pieces on a cooling rack on top of some paper towels and let sit 30 minutes before frying. This helps the coating stick on the chicken so it won't fall off when frying.

Heat the oil to 375 degrees F in a deep pot (I use a Cool Daddy Fryer). If using a deep pot do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.

Fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp. Dark meat takes longer then white meat. It should take thighs about 13 to 14 minutes, breasts around 8 to 10 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165 degrees. Cut into one piece to ensure chicken is cooked through; juices should run clear.

Enjoy,
Mary

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Nutmeg Noels

Easy Christmas cookies, my husband loves and made them himself tonight, I think because he was desperate!  Seriously, we've been making these for years and they're always a hit. Light nutmeg taste, buttery soft cookies.

RECIPE
Ingredients
2 tbls red or green sugar sprinkles
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter

Method
Preheat oven to 400. In small bowl combine colored sugar and 1/4 tsp nutmeg; set aside.

In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and remaining nutmeg (1/4 tsp); add butter, egg and vanilla.  Beat at low speed until well mixed, approx. 3 minutes. 

Roll rounded teaspoonfuls into 1" balls.  Roll cookies into sugar/nutmeg mixture. Place on un-greased cookies sheets, about 2" apart.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until centers are firm.

Enjoy,
Mary

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Granddad's Golden Mushroom Sirloin Beef Tips

Updated August 2019

It was strange to me when my dad started cooking, much later in his life. He loved to cook with wine, which my mother did not, so we had many interesting dinners when he started "experimenting!"  

For the most part he did an amazing job, and many of them I love and prepare to this day. This recipe for his Golden Mushroom Sirloin Beef Tips is one of my family's favorites, and we have it from time to time when I'm in the mood for one of  "dad's dinners!"

My dad originally used sirloin beef tips my parents purchased at a local butcher, but over the years we all started using stew beef instead which is more budget-friendly.

RECIPE
Ingredients

2 lbs stew beef cut into 1-inch pieces

1 medium clove garlic, minced 

2 cans cream of mushroom soup 

1 Tbsp. chopped onion 

3/4 cup sherry 

1/2 cup water

Method

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir until blended. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. Serve over rice or egg noodles.

*Cook's note - 

1. Beef tips can also be baked in a large covered casserole dish or Dutch oven in a 350-degree oven for 2-3 hours.
2. You can use marsala wine or red wine such as a cabernet sauvignon in place of the sherry.

Also seen on Weekend Potluck

Enjoy,

Mary

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Granddad's 60-Minute Rolls

My dad loved to cook!  As as young girl, I remember he got a Campbell's Soup Cookbook one year for Christmas and proceeded to make many recipes from that little book. He also loved making each recipe his own by adding different spices, wine, etc. to the mix! Maybe that's where I also learned to change up the recipe? 
These 60-Minute Rolls came into our house when he was in his older years ... like late 60's (he'd be 92 now if he was still with us).  He originally found them in a Maine Cookbook ... super-easy, very tasty yeast rolls that take 1 hour from start to finish.  When the dough is patted out with your hands, and cut with a 2" round cutter, they are then brushed with melted butter and folded over in 1/2 to make half-moon shaped rolls. They are delicious served with butter, or try honey-butter for a different taste.  Either way, they are yummy. My family loves them and I know yours will too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

2 pkgs. yeast (if using a jar of yeast, this would be 4 1/2 tsp. yeast)
¼ cup warm water (110-120 degrees)
1 ¼ cups milk
¾ tsp salt
3 tbls sugar
¼ cup butter
3 ½-4 ½ cups flour

 

Method

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm water. In a large saucepan, put milk, sugar, salt and ½ of the butter; heat to lukewarm (I have also done this in the microwave, then just cool to lukewarm before proceeding). Add yeast mixture to milk/sugar/salt/butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. In a large mixer bowl (I use my Kitchen Aid), using the dough hook, put 3 1/2 cups of the flour and add combined liquid ingredients.  Turn mixer on low and beat until dough forms a ball, adding just enough more flour (approx. 1 cup) to make a soft dough (dough may be slightly sticky). Put out on floured board and knead until smooth (5 or so turns of the dough should be plenty). Dough should be soft, but not sticky. Place dough in a greased (I spray with Pam) bowl, cover with saran wrap and let rise in warm place for 15 minutes. Turn out onto floured board and pat out to 1/2” thick. Cut with a 2” cutter. Brush rolls with remaining butter and fold over in 1/2. Let rise on a greased baking sheet in a warm place for 15 minutes. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.

Raising dough tip – turn oven on to 400 for 1 minute – turn off and place dough in oven to rise. Works great every time! You will also need to turn the oven on again to 400 for 1 minute for the 2nd rising.

Yield:  about 12-15 rolls

Ham Stock and 15 Bean & Ham Soup

I love ham and 15 bean soup! It's one of those "make you feel warm all over soups." So, let's make some. You need one very meaty ham bone, saved from a ham shank or other ham you have baked. Save any leftover meat from the ham as well ... you will need some later. This is probably the most "frugal" thing you can do - make stock from a ham you have already eaten for dinner ... I mean, why not? You were going to throw it away anyway, so why not use it to make stock? Just think for one minute how awesome that is ... something you weren't going to use becomes some yummy soup you and your family will enjoy, or stock you can add to other dishes to make it even more yummy. I'ts a win, win as far as I can see!

RECIPE
Ingredients
1 large, meaty ham bone
2 quarts water
1 large onion, chopped
4 large carrots, cut in 1/2
4 celery stalks, cut in 1/2
1-2 tsp sea salt
1-2 tsp course-ground black pepper
1-2 tsp garlic
1-2 tbls chili powder
1-2 tsp red pepper flakes

Soup
1 bag Hurst's 15 Bean Mix
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
garlic to taste
Juice of 1 lemon or 1 tbls lemon juice
Ham pieces, diced

Method
Place all ingredients in a large stock pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer several hours, or until ham is falling off the bone (about 3-4 hours); drain stock discarding all vegetables and ham bone.  Reserve any ham meat from the bone to use in the soup. Place stock in a large storage container and refrigerate until fat particles solidify on top; remove fat from stock. At this time you can pressure can just the ham stock if desired. Ladle into jars and pressure can pints for 20 minutes and quarts for 25 minutes at 10 lbs pressure.

Soup
Soak 15-bean mixture for 8 hours or overnight in 9 cups water.  Drain beans and place in large stock pot.  Cover with 2 quarts of reserved ham stock, add water if necessary; bring mixture to a boil, uncovered. Simmer 2 1/2 hours; add 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 onion diced, garlic and lemon juice. Continue to simmer 30 more minutes. Serve while hot or put up by pressure canning if desired.

Pressure Canning 15 Bean and Ham Soup
Reduce cooking time for the soup (above recipe) to 1 hour. Place diced ham pieces (reserved from baked ham) in canning jars; ladle soup over top to fill jars leaving 1" head space. Process pint jars 75 minutes at 10 lbs. pressure (quart jars 90 minutes).

Enjoy,

Mary

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Joan's Chili

Updated January 2020

This is a very easy chili recipe I originally received from my mother-in-law when I was first married. You can mix it up anyway you want to, add more beans, a variety of beans and even corn.  

My family prefers it the original way, but we always serve it with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapeno's, sour cream, cornbread, Saltine crackers or Frito's on the side, so each person can make their bowlful their way. 

RECIPE

Ingredients

2 cans kidney beans (can omit if you prefer bean-less chili)
2 cans tomato soup
1 can stewed tomatoes (or diced, whichever you prefer)
2 large onions chopped
1 1/2 lbs hamburger
2-4 tbsp chili powder (to taste)
1-2 tsp cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
1-2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 tsp course-ground black pepper
salt to taste
sliced jalapenos (optional)

Method

Brown beef and drain fat. Put all ingredients and large pot and simmer 2-4 hours or until well cooked and flavors have blended. 

Adjust seasonings during cooking time. This chili can be made as hot or as mild as you like by simply adding more or less peppers and spice. 

Cook's Note - 
You can also make this in a slow cooker. Simply brown the beef, drain fat, add to crock pot with all other ingredients and cook 8-10 hours on low. Perfect for a quick weekday meal!

Recipe is easily doubled and freezes well.

Enjoy,
Mary

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Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb

I love, love, love lamb! Lamb of all kinds, center-cut loin chops, bone-in or boneless leg of lamb and more! Easy to roast, and very yummy, a boneless leg of lamb makes a very nice presentation for a special dinner or celebration.  Paired with some yummy root vegetables, it's dinner in one pan, which is always great!

Roasted Boneless Leg of Lamb

First, make sure your lamb is at room temperature: To cook evenly, the lamb roast must not be cold - let it stand at room temperature, loosely covered, for approximately 1 hour or even more. This time can vary depending on how big or small your lamb roast is. I can't give you an exact time on this. If you don't let the roast come to room temperature, if will take longer to cook your roast. Your roast won't cook evenly, and you'll end up with well-done slices on the end and raw meat in the center. Use your best judgment!


Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, minced (use more or fewer according to taste - we used whole cloves)
2 teaspoons coarsely-chopped fresh rosemary leaves (stems removed) or 1 teaspoon dry rosemary leaves
1/4 teaspoons coarsely-ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Root vegetables of your choice (onions, potatoes, carrots or other)

Method

In a small bowl, combine garlic, rosemary, and pepper. Add olive oil and lemon juice. Mix until all ingredients are combined.  Remember - don't remove the netting that is around the lamb roast.

Rub the Herb Seasoning Rub mixture all over the outside of the lamb.  Now add your root vegetables, placing them around the roast in the pan.

Insert a meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of lamb (not resting in fat). Set oven to 450 and sear the lamb roast for 15 minutes then turn the oven to 325 for the rest of the cooking time. Do not cover the roast. Cook until the lamb roast reaches the desired internal temperature.  Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil, and let sit approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Remove netting prior to carving.

Rare	120 to 125 degrees F	center is bright red, pinkish toward the exterior portion
Medium Rare	130 to 135 degrees F	center is very pink, slightly brown toward the exterior portion
Medium	140 to 145 degrees F	center is light pink, outer portion is brown
Medium Well	150 to 155 degrees F	not pink
Well Done	160 degrees F and above	meat is uniformly brown throughout

Enjoy!

Mary

Bleu Cheese "Cheese Apple"

If you LOVE Bleu Cheese, you will love this Cheese Apple (cheese ball).  This is from my mother's family, and it's so good! Something we looked forward to when we were kids to have at the holiday time, or any "special time."  Awesome stuffed on celery (one of my favorites) or on crackers ...  we absolutely love it on Wheat Thins or Triscuits, but it's really good on any of your cracker favorites.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!


Ingredients
2 - 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 - 4 oz. bleu cheese crumbles or wedge of bleu cheese
1 small onion, diced finely
1-2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (or more to taste)
Paprika (to sprinkle all around cheese ball)

Method
Mix first 4 ingredients until well blended (we usually mix by hand ... yep, get your hands in it and smoosh it all together - this is fun for kids to do)!

Sprinkle with Paprika and chill.

Serve with your choice of celery sticks or crackers.

Enjoy,

Mary

Boston Baked Beans

Revised and updated June 2020

I love it when I come across a new recipe for canning, and just couldn't wait to try it and share it!  This one is much more reminiscent of true Boston Baked Beans with onion, molasses, ground mustard, and more goodness!

I tasted it several times during the "baking" process and adjusted the seasonings to our taste, so please feel free to make it your own. The process is long, but you're not standing over it all day long, and the results are so worth the time it takes!

RECIPE

Ingredients

1 bag dry Hurst Navy Beans (24 oz or 3 cups)
3 tbsp molasses (or more to taste)
2 tsp salt per 3 cups of beans (optional)
1-2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 cup ketchup (or barbecue sauce)
1/4 cup brown sugar (or up to 1/2 cup)
1 large onion, diced
1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-2 tsp course-ground black pepper (or to taste)

Method
Sort and rinse the beans in a colander in cold water. In a large dutch oven add beans and 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans (9 cups water for 3 cups of beans).  Cover and bring to a boil on stove-top. Boil 2 minutes, remove from heat and let sit covered 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans.

Add beans back to the dutch oven, add 9 cups of water, and heat to boiling. Drain (this time reserving the bean water in a bowl). 

Mix the molasses, salt, ground mustard, ketchup (or barbecue sauce), brown sugar, onion, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and 4 cups of the reserved bean water in a large dutch oven; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in drained beans.  You may need more bean water as you need enough to cover beans completely. Mixture will be very soupy.

Cover dutch oven and bake in oven at 350 for 3-4 hours, stirring every hour and adding more bean water as necessary to keep beans soupy.  After 2 hours, taste beans and adjust seasonings to your taste (I added more molasses, ground mustard and pepper). Beans should be ready to pressure can in 3-4 hours (the beans should be cooked, but remember they are going to cook more in the canner, so you don't want them too soft).

If not canning, stop here and continue to bake until beans are done to your satisfaction. Serve while hot with your favorite dishes.

Pressure Canning:

Using a slotted spoon, ladle beans into canning jars, filling with half solids and half liquid (I chose pint jars for us, but quarts work too). Add more bean water to each jar if needed to keep mixture "soupy." Cover jars with seals and pressure can pints 65 minutes, or quarts 75 minutes at 10 lbs. pressure (adjusting for altitude).

Remove pressure canner from heat, allow pressure to release on its own, remove jars (place on a kitchen towel on your counter-top) and leave undisturbed 24 hours.  Jars are sealed when you hear the "popping" of the lids depressing (raised button in the middle of the lid is depressed).

Store on pantry shelf. Shelf life is 1 year.

Yield: approx. 6 pints

Enjoy your Boston Baked Beans with some Boston Brown Bread for an authentic New England treat.

For more awesome bean recipes see Bacon Zucchini Bean Dip and the amazing bean collection at Sumptuous Spoonfuls

Enjoy,

Mary

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