Ham and Beans with Skillet Cornbread

Lately, I have been looking for new family meals that my entire family will enjoy, including my southern husband and my picky toddler.  This recipe was derived from the southern ham and beans recipe but I added my northern twist to it making the beans with ketchup, mustard and brown sugar to give them more of baked bean flavor.  The skillet cornbread is a MUST with this recipe because the juice from the beans is so yummy and flavorful that you have to have something to mop up all that goodness.  Over the next couple of months, I will be sharing many of my original family/ toddler friendly meals with you.   So please stay tuned!

Beans and Ham Recipe

Yield: Serves 8 people

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups dry great northern beans
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 medium diced onion
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 cup diced ham (use part of whole ham)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 1/2 lb smoked ham

Soak beans overnight or for 8 hours in 9 cups of water.  Drain and rinse beans in a colander.  On the stove top, add the olive oil to the dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Sautee the onions in the oil until tender.  Add 9 cups of water to the dutch oven and bring to a boil.  Add all of the ingredients except for the whole ham, stir, then add the beans.   Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.  Let simmer an additional 45 minutes uncovered to reduce the liquid.  Add the whole ham.  Cover and continue to simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Pull ham out and slice. Serve with cornbread.  

Skillet Cornbread Recipe

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp butter

Preheat to 425 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients together.  In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients together.  Put the skillet in the oven while it is heating.  When oven has reached 425 degrees, remove the skillet and melt the butter in the skillet.  Pour the batter in the skillet and bake for 17 minutes.