Navy Beans with Country Ham

Navy bean cooked with ham and served with a couple of slices of French bread is one of the most simple, and most delicious meals when the weather starts to turn cool. There isn't much to putting it together so it doesn't require a lot of kitchen time unless you are also making the bread to go with it.

Navy Beans With Country Ham

2 lbs of Navy Beans

2 large onions chopped

1 large bell pepper

3-4 stalks of celery

1-2 tablespoons of butter

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1-2 Bay leaves(take out when you serve the dish)

Ham...I use a small amount of meat for flavor about 1/2 lb.

salt and pepper to taste

Hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce

Soak the beans overnight or do the quick soak method on the bag. Start the beans cooking and let them cook for about an hour on low.

Chop the vegetables and saute in butter until translucent and the edges are beginning to brown. Add to the pot of beans. Also, add seasonings.

brown ham in the pot that the vegetables were in. When browned add meat to beans and deglaze the pan and add this liquid to the pot of bean also. Let it cook for 20 minutes to an hour, test for seasoning and adjust.

Serve in a bowl with a couple of slices of fresh bread and enjoy. Hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce can be added to taste after being served.