Ham and Beans

Christmas is over and now there is a fridge full of leftovers. What do you do with your ham bone and that big chunk of meat left on it unsliced?

One of my family's favorite meals comes from those leftovers.    My husband actually asked for it on Easter instead of the spiral sliced ham.  With a pregnant wife and 4 kids craving slow cooked spiral sliced ham, loaded baked potatoes, and steamed asparagus, corn and baby carrots he quickly backed down.

Ham and Beans

Left over Ham on bone from a spiral sliced ham
3 40oz cans of Pinto beans
1 Large yellow Onion small diced
Water

1. Start by adding the Ham with bone into a large pot.  
2. Drain the pinto beans and add to the pot.  
3. Add enough water to cover the ham and beans well.  
4. Add the diced onion into the pot as well. 
5. Put mixture onto medium heat let simmer until remaining meat falls off the ham bone.  
6. Remove the ham bone and chop up any large chunks of ham to large bite size pieces, returning the meat to the bean mixture.  
7. Turn heat to Medium high to thicken the liquids.  

You can use Lima beans, Great Northern,  or black eyed peas. Which ever bean your family prefers.