Chicken/Ham with Black Beans on Rice

This is a variation of a Cuban recipe. I had a scrawny piece of fried chicken left over and didn't quite know what to do with it. I'm still on my quest to increase our bean consumption so I found this really nice Cuban recipe which includes black beans. The addition of balsamic vinegar adds a nice depth of flavor to the dish.

Ingredients

1 piece fried chicken (you can just use 2-3 pieces of chicken or ham)
1 lb cubed ham (approx)
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
2-3 c dried black beans, soaked and cooked or pressured cooked for 20min
Balsamic vinegar, salt, garlic powder to taste
Oil for frying

Method

Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat. Add some oil and fry the onions until soft. Add the meat and cook until no longer raw (if you're using raw meat), add cooked black beans. Season to taste. Serve over cooked long-grained rice.

Bean and Ham Bone Stew

It's a frozen tundra here and this hearty stew is cheap and easy way to warm up an fill up. It requires a bit of pre-planning if you're using dried beans but it is so easy to make.

Ingredients

1 ham bone
1 lb dried lima beans, soaked over night
8c water (approx)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, oregano to taste
1 c heavy cream (optional)

Method

In a dutch oven or heavy stock pot, bring water to a boil. Add ham bone and navy beans and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover for a few hours. Add seasonings to taste. You may need to add more water if it boils off. I added heavy cream before serving but it is optional. Tastes even better overnight. This stew should work well in a slow cooker as well.