Introduction

     Welcome to our blog.  This has been an idea-in-the-making for awhile.  It all started with Pinterest.  I decided to try as many of the recipes on my unsuspecting family as possible.  We then rated them on a 0-4 star scale.  0, being the worst meal and 4 stars, the best. 
     We live in the panhandle of Idaho.  It is a remote location, to be sure.  We are a few of the 1,260 people here.  Yes, we have to have satellite internet.  It is a quiet life.  Everyone has lived in the largest cities before but prefer the lovely life offered here in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

     The "ranch family" ranges in ages from 13 to 60. Their tastes differ for food, but all enjoy fresh, basic food.
     Our first dish to discuss is "Chuck's famous Ham and Beans with Cornbread".  Our weather today was cool and overcast.  We all have a cold. (weather)  Perfect weather for Ham and Beans or soup!! Yum!!

     Here is Chuck, of "Ham and Beans" fame to tell you what he did to turn this into one of our most requested meals, here at the ranch.

This is an old Missouri entree, and I think I've about got it perfected. First, get a bag of navy or great northern beans and soak in cold water for eight hours or so, until the beans puff up. We like Honeybaked hams, so keep the bone and remaining ham after you've devoured the sliced portion. Or use whatever hambone or ham portion you have. I rinse the ham in hot water to remove any glaze. Put the bone, half a whole onion, and soaked beans (drained) in a big crock pot, cover with hot water, and turn on high for about ten hours, until the ham and bone fall apart. Overnight works well. Take it off heat, let it cool, pick out the bones and onion and discard. Stick the crock pot in the fridge until the fat solidifies on top, so you can skim it off. Turn the crock pot back on high and add an envelope of bean soup mix. There's a brand named "Bear Creek" that I like. Cook until the beans are kind of disaggregated and it gets soupy. Add salt and pepper to taste as cooking goes on. Serve over cornbread.. 

Tomorrow, another recipe from the ranch.  Nite, folks.