(Mom and I taking a zoom cooking class at Christmas with the amazing Charlie Palmer)
I got my love for cooking from my mom and dad. They are both phenomenal cooks. They love cooking and appreciate great restaurants. While they are able to cook anything, I learned from them that nothing beats amazing ingredients, prepared simply.
My mom once told me - it’s really hard to mess up brie, but there is nothing you can do to velveeta to make it taste good.
(sorry if you love velveeta).
I have been gluten and dairy free for 15+ years (a necessity not a choice). So, when following someone else’s recipe, I often find myself having to modify the ingredients to be gluten and dairy free. I am going to start sharing some of my favorite recipes with you.
This recipe is from my Aunt’s mother - Leona Mae, who always made the best soups!
This soup is sooo easy, and a dump soup - where you just throw in the ingredients and voila!
Recipe:
- 1/2 bag of mixed beans (Bob's Red Mill bean mix adds a tasty variety!)
- 1 can whole tomatoes
- 1 onion (I usually use white but had a red onion in my fridge so I used that)
- 3-5 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 1 chicken bullion cube
- 1 ham hock (skin cut away if yours has the skin on)
- 1 tsp good salt (I always go with the Redmond brand)
Instructions:
- Start by adding all the ingredients into the instant pot. When adding the tomatoes, take a minute to break them up with your hands to capture the full flavor.
- Use the can that had the tomatoes and add 1 1/2 - 2 cans of water (make sure beans are well covered)
- Set the pressure timer to 45 min, with vent sealed (If you don't have an instant pot you can easily make this on the stove top and simmer for a few hours until the beans are tender)
- When the timer goes off - quick release
- Take the ham hock out and shred the ham off the bone and add back to the soup, discarding anything too fatty)
- Stir and remove the bay leaves and the stems of the thyme
- Salt and Pepper additionally to taste
And that's it! No laboring over the stove required and all tummies more than satisfied.
Also - I didn’t know for YEARS that my instant pot handle on the side acts as a lid holder...is anyone else with me!?
