Anyone make the Mex Ham/Bean soup in the crockpot?

[swquilts]

I've been craving this lately, but I'd like to make it in the crockpot so I can have it during the week.

Has anyone made this in the crock? I could soak the beans overnight then put all but the tomatoes and chile in the pot and cook on low all day. Then finish it when I got home.

Thoughts?

[shscharles]

Actually, what you described is exactly what I do. Soak the beans all night, next morning drain and rinse and put everything in the CP. Works great and the house smells terrific!

[swquilts]

Do you put the tomatoes in all day or at the end?

Thanks!

[shscharles]

As I recall, I just dumped everything, including the tomatoes and chile, into the pot in the a.m.

Unless you're a texture perfectionist, it'll be fine. They're tinned tomatoes anywho, so are already well cooked. I also like the chile flavor in the beans and adding it at the end didn't give it enough time to permeate.

OK, I'm getting hungry...where's the ham?

[SusanMac]

I just made this last night. Definitely put everything into the CP at the beginning. Tomatoes & all.

When you said "finish" at the end...I didn't know what you meant.

[Hoodone]

I've always heard that acidic ingredients such as tomatoes retard the bean softening process, perhaps even keeping them from softening properly. If it's not too much work, I'd add the tomatoes at the end.

[swquilts]

Thanks for all of the insight. I'll have to make it this week and I'll report back.

I can have DH add the tomatoes when he gets home. He beats me by an hour.

Yummmm....now I wish I had the time to make that wonderful bread with it too!

[lsdesign]

I remember that soup! It was gooooood. What issue, last year?

[swquilts]

It's from October 2002.

[swquilts]

Worked OK. I started it at 8am and when I got home at 7:30 (was Xmas shopping) the beans were just a tad underdone. I whacked the pot up to high for a bit and they were fine.

Next time I'll just start them earlier with the timer.