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One more from yours truly :P

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A traditional New Orleans New Years dish, since I still had PLENTY of leftover Christmas ham lying around!

Bòn Ane !

Cooking Time: 1 1/2 hrs

Ingredients:

1 ham hock or thick slab of BACON, chopped
(I had a good chunk of leftover ham, as stated)
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 bell pepper (didn't add, but don't let that stop you)
5-6 green onions, bottoms removed with the rest chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 can black eyed peas, rinsed
1 can northern beans, rinsed
1 can low-salt diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix (I put in an extra shake myself)
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon parsley leaves
Louisiana hot sauce (optional)
Uncle Ben's Microwave Rice Bag

To make: First, you want to get your crockpot and just put it to the side for a moment...

Chop the onions, celery, green onions and garlic...

Get a large skillet and coat with 1 tablespoon olive oil, get to med. high...

Saute' all of that until translucent, then, add the ham and cook for about 2 -3 minutes.

Then turn off the heat, set aside...

Put into your crock pot the 5 cups of chicken broth, along with the diced tomatoes, juice and all - then all of your spices

Then slowly put in the ham goodness along with that onion, green onion, (bell pepper) and garlic into the crock pot as well, and set on HIGH and let it cook for at least an hour, covered! (Stir it from time to time, but you really don't need to do all that much.)

BUT - and this is important - NORMALLY this recipe calls for dried beans which take longer to cook. (roughly 4 -5 hours, at least!)

Since I used CANNED beans, the key is - you need to leave those OUT of the crockpot until the last 30 minutes comes along, because otherwise, they'll get mushy if left in the pot to cook for too long!

But once it does come along, then you can put in those beans and you'll be good to go....

Then set on low and let it go...let it go...I don't think I can hold on...:P

Last thing to mention: I did not add even one pinch of salt in this...and, quite frankly, you don't need it because 1.) The ham, which has a good amount of salt content to begin with and 2.) The celery, which has its own natural sodium!

And all you have to do is microwave that Uncle Bens packet (vented, of course, duh) for that 90 seconds it takes to cook, put at the bottom of the bowl...then serve with the Hoppin' John which is heavenly, hammingly good :P

Enjoy!


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Allergy warning – please read all recipes carefully and be aware of any allergies or sensitivities that may effect your health and well-being