SHELLING BEANS RECIPES

Steps:

• Pick through beans for debris, and other foreign particles, then wash & drain.
• Add the beans to a medium size pot, Add in the celery, onions, garlic, ham and spices. Add enough water or chicken broth to cover beans. Cover with a tight fitting lid, and bring to a boil. Skim off any accumulated foam. Lower heat so beans will simmer. Proceed to cook on medium high until beans are tender.
• Check pot periodically to make sure beans are still covered with liquid, and replenish as needed. Continue cooking until beans are tender or as desired. Stirring occasionally I cooked mine about 1 1/2 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
• Serve as desired.
• I served mine with a skillet of Southern Style Corn Bread. I enjoyed every morsel.

Steps:

• Combine shelled beans, fennel bulb, whole shallot, halved carrot, and smashed garlic cloves in a medium pot; add water to cover by 2 inches. Add 1 tablespoon salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until beans are creamy in centers, 40 to 50 minutes. Season to taste toward end of cooking.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath. Using a paring knife, lightly score bottom of each tomato with an X. Add tomatoes to boiling water and blanch until skin pulls away, 20 to 30 seconds. Transfer to ice bath. When cool enough to handle, peel tomatoes, remove seeds, and coarsely chop. (You should have about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high until shimmering. Add chopped fennel and shallot and sliced carrots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden in places, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, until toasted, 1 minute more. Add chopped tomatoes; cook until tomato juices reduce slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in pole beans and water or stock; season. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and partially cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender and flavors meld, about 30 minutes.
• Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente; drain. Stir 2 cups cooked shelling beans into soup; season with salt and vinegar to taste. Just before serving, stir in greens. Divide pasta and soup among bowls, and serve with a drizzle of oil and sprinkles of parsley and red-pepper flakes.