Wow! Talk about an affordable, healthy and delicious meal. For just over $5 bucks, you get a beautiful dish with wonderful flavors and textures and most definitely, leftovers. Because really; this meal can feed 6, easy! Oh, and jalapeno cheddar is the bomb! Such the perfect addition to this simple summer salad. Between the salad and the soup, your family will never ask to go Souplantation again!

10 Bean Soup with Ham:

1 1/2 lbs bulk 10 bean soup (dry) – $1.71
Leftover Ham and Bone (never throw these out after Sunday dinner or Easter. Freeze it! If you have to buy a large slice of bone-in ham, expect to pay $3.50 or so for a slab) – Freezer
1 Tbsp Canola Oil – pantry
1 medium yellow onion, diced – $.45
2 tsps Soul seasoning or salt – pantry
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper – pantry
2 bay leaves – pantry
1/2 tsp thyme – pantry
6 cups water (I add a few Tbsps of chicken bouillon, for flavor) – pantry

COST: $2.26

Before you start, you can cut some pieces off the ham bone and cube them. Just make sure and keep the bone. It all gets cooked up and the bone itself is where you get all your flavor!

Now, heat oil in a large, deep pot over medium heat. Add onion, 1/2 of your Soul Seasoning or salt and saute for 5 to 10 minutes.

Once onions are cooked, add ham and ham bone. Stir and add broth or water, bay leaves, thyme, rest of salt or soul seasoning and pepper. Stir again, until all ingredients are combined, add beans and cover. Bring to strong boil, reduce to simmer and cook (covered) for 3-4 hours.

Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving and add some finely diced green onion or jalapeno as garnish, if you choose. We leave them on the side since we have kids. A little habanero hot sauce is great too, if you like it really spicy!

Speaking of spicy, check out this salad…

Spicy Summer Salad:

Mixed greens, whatever’s on sale – $.99
2 Large Roma Tomato, sliced or diced – $.30
1 green Pepper, sliced or diced – $.44
1 cup Jalapeno Cheddar, cubed – $1.50
1/2 onion, thinly sliced- $.25
Salt and Pepper to taste – pantry

COST: $3.48

GRAND TOTAL: $5.74