Several Meals and Ideas from one Ham Bone

I cannot tell you enough how giddy I get when I bring home my Honey Baked Ham Co ham bone. It means easy meals for at least half a week, if not more. My mother-in-law, Donna, turned me on to this. I went to her house one night and had some pinto beans. The flavor was amazing. I asked her how she made them and this is when she revealed to me the "wonders" of the ham bone. But not just any ham bone...a ham bone from the Honey Baked Ham Co. I immediately ran out and bought one and have been hooked ever since. We have a Honey Baked Ham Co right down the street from our house so that helps but if you have to make the drive, it's completely worth it.

The Ham Co carries frozen ham bones. You can buy them in all different sizes. Every couple of months, they will run a special where you can buy a ham bone of any size and of any price PLUS one of their many soup mixes...both for $9.99. So when they run this sale, I buy a few ham bones for the freezer and I buy HUGE ones.

The one I bought last week was over $15.00 but since they were running the special, I got the ham bone plus a Split Pea Soup mix for $9.99.

You should have seen this thing...it was GINORMOUS!

It had so much ham on it. And the crust...OH, the crust. If any one of you have had a ham from the Honey Baked Ham Co...then you know what I'm talking about. The yummy crusty goodness all over the outside. This is just perfect for making soups or beans because you don't have to do much with it. All the spices and flavors are already all over the ham bone. Today's post I will show you how I made 4 meals with one ham bone.

So I bring my ham bone home. I thaw it out. First thing I do is make a Ham Sandwich...YUM! I ate it so fast I completely forgot to take a picture. Next thing I do, I cut off a large portion of the ham and cut those portions into small chunks and then I make my Split Pea Soup with that. You can make a home made split pea as well, but this mix I buy from them is amazing and even comes with a little seasoning packet. Total, it takes 2 hours, but you just put it in the pot and leave it and it does the rest for you. Very tasty.

I put my ham bone back in the fridge for the next day. I put my pinto beans in a pot and soak them over night. The next day I place the remaining ham bone in with the beans and simmer all day. The smokiness of the ham bone and all the yummy spices from the crust on the outside of the hambone, make these beans absolutely amazing. Best part? They are super easy! Beans and cornbread anyone?

The next day (after I have beans again for lunch, with cheese and sour cream, whoa Nelly, grab the Beano), I put my pinto beans into a pot, heat them up, add some milk, butter and a little bit of salt and pepper...and start smashing away to make my refried beans. I fry up a few corn tortillas. And waa-laa...Tostadas.

The next day for lunch, I pull out my smashed refried beans and make Bean and Cheese Burritos. I once again, gobbled it up so fast I forgot to take pictures.

So there you have it folks. One Ham Bone, 4 meals...wait a minute..let's recap:

1. Ham Sandwich
2. Split Pea Soup
3. Beans (with cornbread)
4. Beans for lunch (with cheese and sour cream)
5. Tostadas (refried beans)
6. Bean and Cheese Burritos
7. Left over ham for Zim

Seven meals! With one ham bone. It doesn't get any easier than this. Try it out, you will not be disappointed.