What to do with a ham bone
I'm afraid I drive my family crazy on occasion with my "oddness."
But in my mind it's only smart to save the ham bone from a holiday dinner and use it to make at least one more meal. I think it's smart - and it's also extremely tasty.
After our big family dinner is over, cut the rest of the ham off the bone and save the meat for leftovers. Ham sandwiches are so good. So is ham with au gratin potatoes.
But you can also use the ham bone for at least another meal. Let's look at what to make with a ham bone.
Do this with the ham bone
Place the ham bone in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer until enough time has passed that we're no longer tired of ham. You know what I mean.
Then use it to make ham and bean soup, or split pea soup.
You can make either recipe with just plain water, but the little bits of ham on the bone - and the flavoring of the bone itself - will lend so much more flavor to your soup.
Can't you just taste that bowl of beans, ham and vegetables with some corn muffins or homemade bread?
That great flavor came from something that most people throw away after their holiday meal.
Of course, it doesn't have to be the ham you served for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. You should save the bone every time you bake a ham!
How to make ham stock
Although the terms are used interchangeably, stock and broth have a fundamental difference. Stock is made from bones and broth is made by simmering the meat.
To make ham stock, place the ham bone in a large pot or in your slow cooker and cover it with water.
Add some chopped vegetables if you wish. Carrots, onions and celery are always good choices. Do not add salt - ham is salty enough on its own!
Simmer uncovered for six to eight hours. If any scum forms on the surface while simmering, you can remove it with a slotted spoon.
Remove the bone and strain the vegetables out of the stock. (Now you can throw away that bone!)
Refrigerating the stock overnight makes it easy to remove the fat from the stock. The fat will rise to the top and solidify when it gets cold, so you can simply remove the chunk of fat with a spoon.
How to store ham stock
In a covered containter, ham stock will last up to one week in the refrigerator. Frozen, it will keep for three to six months.
Freeze ham stock in smaller amounts so you'll only need to thaw the amount you need for a recipe. Suggested amounts are one cup, two cups and quarts (4 cups).
Or freeze homemade ham stock in ice cube trays. When frozen, pop them out of the trays and store in large zippered freezer bags so you can use just one or two cubes to flavor a recipe.
Be sure to label the containers and include the date, so you'll always know how fresh your frozen stock is, and can use the oldest container first.
Soups you can make with ham stock
You'll find the recipes and directions for making ham and bean soup here, and how to make split pea soup here. Both are very easy to make.
You might also try these ideas:
- Black bean soup with ham
- Lima bean soup with ham
- Creamy potato soup
- Minestrone soup
Use ham stock as the liquid when making rice or risotto instead of water, to really kick up the flavor.
Your family will think you slaved over the stove all day - but they're easy! Use a slow-cooker to save even more of your time.
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