At many small farms and backyard pig pens, November is hog-killing season. My husband and I get our pork from a friend; a group of us gets together each fall to slaughter, butcher and package animals.

Rinse dried beans and peas twice, discarding any that are discolored or float to surface. Soak dried beans and peas in cold water a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight. NOTE: Soak black beans ...

Meals like ham and bean soup are all about squeezing the most flavor out of a few basic parts. Homey and hearty, great ham and bean soups embrace their simplicity by eschewing tons of add-ins or ...

I'm trying to make things easier on myself this January. After a lovely and decadent holiday, I'm spending time getting back to routine — making lists, laying out a week's worth of work outfits and ...

1. Cover dried beans with water and a sprinkle of salt and soak overnight. If not soaking, rinse and simmer beans in salted water for 45 minutes, or until they are softened. 2. In a large soup pot, ...

2 pounds dried navy beans, picked over, rinsed, soaked overnight 3 to 4 quarts hot water, divided use 1 1/2 pounds smoked ham hocks, rinsed 2 tablespoons butter 1 large onion, chopped Salt and freshly ...

Reader Michelle Macias emailed last week to ask how best to use a bag of dry navy beans she’d managed to snag at the grocery store. Because I am a daughter of Michigan, the second largest dry bean ...

Melt butter in medium-size saucepan over medium low heat. Add celery, carrot, onion and garlic; stir to mix well. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are almost tender. Add remaining ...

Soak beans covered in cold water over night. Place ham hocks in stock and bring to a boil, let simmer for 30 minutes. Add beans, vegetables, thyme, salt and bay leaves to stock. Bring to boil and ...

Note: Roasting vegetables that have relatively the same density and are cut the same size helps to ensure even cooking. These roasted veggies are delicious to eat on their own, but they're also handy ...

Nothing is healthier or more comforting than a navy bean soup when prepared with lean ham rather than a fat ham hock or sausage. This light recipe has less sodium and is perfect for a cold January ...