Is your leftover holiday ham glaring at you, saying "eat me!" Are the sweet potatoes threatening to go sour? Are you sick of eating them but out of recipe ideas? Well before those leftovers go bad, stage a refrigerator coup and take the other food hostage, here's a healthy, lowfat, high protein and fiber recipe to use them up. Great for dieters. Vegetarian options, too. Baked Bean Soup
Place in large kettle, ham bone and any leftover ham meat or
fat you want to use up. You can even use spiral honey baked ham. It will give
the bean soup that sweet-smoky baked bean flavor. You could use bacon or
sausage, too. Had a vegetarian holiday? No matter. It's just as good meatless.
Skip to step two.
Rinse, sort and add one package dried beans. Navy, pinto,
kidney, garbanzo, turtle or any combination (about two cups total) My favorite
is Hambeens 15-bean soup mix. Simmer in lots of water.
Season with bay leaves, celery seed, black or red pepper (or
pepper blend).
Dice up leftover or fresh sweet potatoes, carrots, yams or
pumpkin.
When beans are about half cooked, add mirepoix: chopped
onions, celery, green peppers (any combination).
If desired, add pineapple toward the end for that Hawaiian
baked beans taste.
I made mine with
sweet potato and green pepper. It was a lovely yellow color and it's chock full
of vitamin A.
