A Souped Up Post & Day 6 of the April Challenge

I stink! 

Or at least I feel like I do. No, it's not that I haven't bathed lately or anything like that. I decided to use up the last of the left over Easter ham today by making ham and bean soup...and I'm trying a new recipe. Said recipe is loaded with onion and garlic that needed to be chopped. So, even though I've washed my hands repeatedly, it still feels like the aroma is clinging to me from the cooking of it. 

I guess I will know if I go back to work and everyone moves away from me.

Oh well, the combination of all the stinky stuff and the rest of the ingredients smells divine. My stomach is growling already!

If you're interested, here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ham bone I leave meat on the bone while it cooks
• 4-5 cups leftover ham
• 2 cups dry navy beans
• 2 cups celery chopped
• 2 cups carrots chopped
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic finely minced
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dry
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley or 1 tbsp. dry
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 8-9 cups chicken stock
• 1 tbsp olive oil for sautéing vegetables

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare dried beans by soaking them in cold water for 8-10 hours, then drain and rinse. (I do this the night before).
2. In large pan heat oil and sauté celery, carrots, onions and garlic until tender.
3. Add chicken stock, ham bone and ham. Transfer to larger pot if necessary.
4. Add beans, parsley, thyme and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 2-3 hours.
6. Chop up large pieces of ham before serving

All of my ham was already off the bone so I just chopped it up when I added it. I'm simmering it on the stove, but once you get it put together, I don't see why you couldn't put it in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.

Now on to day 6 of the April Challenge.

Someone who fascinates you and why.

I'm not much of a people watcher or a fan-girl, but I guess if you'd tell me I could sit down over a meal with anyone I would choose: James Earl Jones because I love his voice and could listen to him talk all day (he could read the phone book and make it sound good); Morgan Freeman because I think he'd have some very interesting thoughts to share; Jamie Lee Curtis because I can't think of a woman more comfortable in her own skin (and she's smart!); Keanu Reeves because he's pretty cute when he isn't busy being all scruffy and his personal story is interesting; and the female evangelist/preacher, Beth Moore, to keep us laughing and thinking of deeper things.

Of course, that's off the top of my head. I know there are more admirable folks out there who have done amazing things, but my mind is just not thinking that deep at the moment.