I am not sure where we found this recipe, but it is one of our top favorites. The tamales do take a good afternoon to prepare, but there is often extra to share or to freeze.
Look for the corn husks at a Mexican store if there is one near you. Soak the dried beans over night before cooking, or see notes to use canned beans. Be sure to soak the corn husks a few hours ahead of time. Homemade tomatillo sauce is recommended.
Not sure what to do with a left over ham bone? This is an easy broth to make as a base for many different soups. Adjust ingredients to your liking.
I asked Mark what he wanted for dinner when he was home for Spring break. He really wanted a good stew. He gets it at school, but it is often salty and served with noodles.
Stew is a very flexible meal. Add more or less vegetables or add other favorites. Serve with a lettuce salad and maybe some bread, and you have an easy meal.
If you have frozen stew meat, you can still cook it in the crock pot. Skip browning the meat. Start cooking the stew on high in the morning and cook for 8 hours. We prefer to cook the frozen meat for 3 or 4 hours with pepper, garlic and onions, then add the remaining vegetables and spices for the last few hours of cooking.
