Comfort in a Bowl: Mom's Ham and Beans Recipe to Soothe Solar Industry Tax Credit Jitters

When the solar industry faces uncertainty about tax credits ending on December 31, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and, well, pissed. But sometimes, the best way to find calm is to step away from the noise and enjoy something simple and comforting. My mom’s crock pot ham and beans recipe has been a family favorite for years, falling into the Soul Food category for us, and I guarantee it will become a family favorite if you don't have your own recipe. Plus, the house will smell so good while it cooks.

Cool story broh, just give me the recipe. Jump to recipe

When I asked my mom for this recipe a while back, this is what she sent:

For those of you unfamiliar with the nuances of Southerners' weights and measures, I have included them as well as the extra stuff I put into my version.

I used the hock from a smoked ham I made for Thanksgiving, but you can also use a precooked one if that's all you have. Also, any white bean will work; I have substituted half navy and half cannellini beans, and it was pretty good.

The main thing to understand is that you cannot mess this up. Use more or less or none of the ingredients, or add more. Have fun with it!

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried navy beans (or great northern beans)

• 1 smoked ham hock or 2 cups diced cooked ham

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced (garlic powder works too = 1/2 tsp, but use more)

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 6 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth (the broth is baller level)

• Salt and pepper to taste. I usually don't add salt since the ham has enough, and my doc gets on my ass about my BP.

Preparing the Beans

Mom is right, soaking reduces the flatulence and, depending on the number of people in the house, may serve as an act of kindness. Since I don't see my siblings very often except on holidays, I do not soak and execute a few crop dusting maneuvers the next day.

Soak them overnight, and you'll be good.

Drain and rinse the beans before putting them into the crock pot. A dutch oven also works if yuu want to be fancy.

Cooking the Ham and Beans

1. Place the ham hock or diced ham in the crock pot.
   

2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper, and celery. You can cook them in a skillet with oil if you want, but I just throw it all in.

   
   

3. Pour in the beans and water or broth.

   
   

4. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for about 8.

   
   

5. Before serving, use a fork to pull off the meat. Discard any fat and, of course, the bones.

   
   

6. The consistency should look like the last picture.
   

The hock I used for this recipe

Everything in

Ready to eat!

Final Thoughts

This ham and beans recipe isn’t trying to teach you a life lesson. It’s just stick-to-your-ribs food that keeps you going. No corny wrap-up, no inspirational quotes. You make it, you eat it, you feel human again. That’s enough.

And if the tax-credit chaos has your nerves doing backflips, just chill for bit, and let the world be ridiculous. A bowl of ham and beans won’t fix the industry, but it will shut your stomach up and remind you that not everything is spinning out of control. Some things still work the way they always have.