Slow Cooker Ham and Beans

Those simple slow-cooker recipes are irresistible, and get pinned a lot. This ham and beans recipe from Plain Chicken looks so easy: just throw some dried beans in the slow cooker with ham, water, and seasonings.

I made it with the chopped ham option instead of ham bone, hocks, or shanks. I also added some fully-cooked pork sausage I had on hand. We had it with cornbread muffins and salad on the side.

I tasted it before serving, and found it both a bit bland, and strangely bitter. So I added about a cup of pureed sweet potato. That improved things, but it was still met with frowns at the table. Everybody ate it, but nobody really loved it.

Maybe if you used the ham hocks or shanks it would be better. But with the chopped ham, it's just a bland bowl of beans. I don't think I'll go through the effort to find hocks/shanks. Slow cooker recipes are really hit-or-miss, and I think this one's a miss.

Verdict: Pass on this one.

Bacon and Egg Risotto

Bacon: ever popular on Pinterest. This bacon and egg risotto from pepper.ph looked not-exactly-healthy-but-delicious. I had to try it. We could have a salad on the side, right?

It's not a traditional risotto, where you stand at the stove forever and gradually stir liquid into pan-toasted rice. It's sort of like a cross between risotto and fried rice. You saute bacon and aromatics, add stock and cream, then add in cooked rice, peas, and parmesan. Top with a fried egg.

I subbed half-and-half for heavy cream. Because cream, bacon, eggs, cheese.... it's a heavy recipe, for sure. And it worked fine with the half-and-half. In fact, it was delicious.

Oh, and I made the eggs basted instead of sunny-side-up, because my guys prefer less-runny yolks.

Verdict: Very, very tasty, but something to only have every once in a while. This is Paula Deen level of fatty deliciousness.