Easter, DPS and cooking with leftovers

I (Jason had to work) headed South last weekend and got to see all the Wards! It all started on Thursday, I high-tailed it out of Midland and made to Austin by 5pm. Donna and I used a forklift to pick up all the BBQ Les ordered and went home to wait on the arrival of the Houston Wards. We had a great evening watching the niece's and nephew play. Friday I was off to Georgetown (with a detour to the Domain) had dinner with the Wied's (Congrats to Jared & Sofia!!!) and by Friday evening I was settled in at Running VR Ranch. Everything out at the ranch is nice and green and it was so nice to relax! All and all it was a great weekend with family and friends.

On my way home Sunday I was treated to meeting DPS' finest outside of San Angelo. Apparently being prego and needing a potty is not good enough of a reason to warrant a warning. Or even to expedite the ticket writing process. I ended up doing the pee-pee dance in the ROW (yep- he made me get out of the car) while he took his sweet time writing my ticket.

I made it home safe and sound and started this week off with a fridge full of left overs.
*Note: Leslie Ward is notorious for cooking WAY too much food. She takes leftovers to new extremes
I have/had 1/2  ham, 1 whole, untouched dish of stuffing, 1 large tupperware of green bean casserole, 1 package of hotdogs and buns respectively and 6 rolls. I could have taken more!!
I thought I would share of my favorite soups and a great way to use up your leftover ham.

Spicy black bean and ham chowder
-ham bone
-chicken broth (about 5 cups or so - enough to boil the ham bone)
-chopped up ham (about 2 cups)
-1 diced onion
-1 clove diced garlic
-1 can diced tomatoes, drained
-2 cans black beans, drain 1
-1 can hot green chilies
-1 can mild green chilies
-1/2 pint cream or 1/2 and 1/2

Boil the onion, garlic and ham bone, about 30 mins or so. Add everything else but the cream and cook for another 30 mins. Add the cream and cook for about 15mins. You are done!
It is super easy and a favorite at my house. I served it with Tex-Mex Canapes last night and Jason had seconds around 9pm.


I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! I will leave you with a photo I came across in the closet at my parents house.

We are such babies. Jason figured out that we have been together (albeit with a break or two) for 9 years!