Saving the ham bone question....

[home4school]

I've been reading here about people saving their hambones for soup, beans, etc. Can I use it to flavor my collard greens for New Years or is that a no-no? I usually put a couple of small pork chops in them, but if I can use this then that saves $$$, right?

 

We enjoy the flavor with the pork chops, so will these taste really drastically different?

 

If I can use this, should I freeze it until then?

 

Thanks!

Kim

[Mom In Missouri]

I think the smoky flavor would be welcome in greens. I'd freeze it just because its out of the way...and use it. Some of the best good eats is a ham bone used for flavoring.

 

Merry Christmas!

[Dobela]

I know many people who use the ham bone in their greens. It can taste wonderful. We use the bone in our black eyed peas and put bacon in our greens though.

[Ferdie]

Here is a recipe for collard greens with ham hocks:

 

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Southern-as-You-Can-Get-Collard-Greens/Detail.aspx

 

I think it is a good idea to freeze the bone, but I have used week old ham with no problems.

[Lolly]

Works well, unless it is a honey ham. The sweet ham just doesn't give a very good flavor! Dh insists on continuing to try.;)

[home4school]

Thanks, ladies. I mentioned using it in the collards to my mother and she looked at me like I had sprouted three heads! "Well, I don't know about that. I never did it that way."

 

Maybe I should just put it in the BE Peas (I didn't even think of that) and still get some chops for the greens.

 

Merry Christmas!

Kim