A certain malaise can set in after the holidays in Minnesota. You know the one. The festivities are over, but we still have way too many weeks of dark and cold, no matter what the groundhog says. Luckily, we’re hearty in the North, so we’re able to weather these last days of winter and look forward to warmer days ahead. And one way to stay warm and eat well as we dream of spring is with a nice soup. This white bean and ham soup makes a great winter meal, and is made using one of my favorite methods: The slow cooker.

Slow Cooker White Bean and Ham Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb of dried Great Northern Beans
• About 1 lb of ham — large pieces or a Neuske’s Bacon smoked Ham Hock that you can pick the meat off later, chop and add back into the soup
• 6 c of chicken stock or broth
• 1 medium white onion diced
• 2 carrots chopped
• 1 Rib celery chopped
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 tsp Sage, Rosemary or Thyme (use what you have)
• ¼ c parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all ingredients in crockpot and stir them all together.
2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
3. Ladle into bowls and serve warm.