Butter Bean Soup with Ham

At Christmas time we had ham. I never quite understood that since Jesus was a Jew and all. But we loved ham so it didn't matter. Besides, we weren't Jewish! (or were we???) But then there came a need for using up leftovers and when it got down to the bone and the small bits, nothing went to waste. Dad would boil off the bone, scrape the bits and chop up the meat. But who wants to wait for Christmas leftovers when you can do a lazy version?

• 1 box of chicken broth (use unsalted)
• 2 cans of butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (8 oz) drained carrots
• 1/2 lb chopped ham or spam
• 1 chopped onion
• Seasonings of choice (I use salt, pepper, smoked paprika and liquid smoke- 1 tsp each)

Combine everything in a soup pot and cook on simmer or cook all day on low in your crock pot.

You could also use a ham hock to season but be sure to remove it before serving.