Ham and Beans

1 lb. navy beans (or red beans)

1 meaty ham hock

a couple of handfuls of baby carrots (or 2 large carrots peeled and cut)

2 Tblsp. dried minced onions

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. coriander

Quick soak the beans by placing them in a pot covered with water, and bringing them to a boil for 4-5 minutes. Turn heat off, place tight fitting lid on the pot, and let them sit for one hour.

Drain the beans and add them to a large pot with the ham bone and all other ingredients. Add enough water to cover the beans by and inch or so (it doesn't need to cover the ham bone). Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until ham is falling off the bone and carrots are tender, 3-4 hours. Remove lid to boil off any excess water, and remove the ham bone and any unwanted pieces.

Ham and Cheese Calzone

3 Tblsp. Mayonnaise
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 cup fresh broccoli florets (about 2 oz.)
about 8 oz. ham (deli or otherwise - I use leftover ham when I cook a spiral ham)
1/2 small onion
8 oz. Swiss cheese, grated, divided
1 Tblsp. vegetable oil, divided
2 pkg (13.8 oz. each) refrigerated pizza crust
1 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine mayonnaise and mustard and mix well. Cut broccoli into small florets; dice ham. Coarsely chop onion. Grate Swiss cheese. Combine broccoli, ham, onion, and half of the Swiss cheese in bowl with mayo and mustard; mix well.

Lightly brush pizza stone or large rectangle stone with 1 tsp. of oil with basting brush. Unroll one package of dough onto bottom of stone, gently stretching and pressing dough to cover bottom. Sprinkle with remaining Swiss cheese to within 1 inch of edges; spoon ham mixture over cheese. Starting at one end, unroll remaining dough directly over filling, matching edges of dough and shaping to fit as dough is unrolled. Trim 1/2 inch off sides of dough. Press edges to seal. Brush remaining oil over dough. Make 12 slits into top crust.

Bake 14 - 16 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over calzone. Return calzone to oven; bake 2 -3 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is deep golden brown. Slice with pizza cutter and serve.