So you're going to save that Christmas ham bone, right? (Wait, you did get a bone-in ham, right? Right?? If not, next time, okay?) Whatever you do with the meat, once you're down to the bone, it's time to get out your biggest pot. We're gonnna cook and a ham bone, well, it's 100% flavor and it's 100% free.

80 Breakfasts ~ Ham Stock "If I could have just one stock in my freezer it would be ham stock. In the face of storm, famine, emergency in-law dinners, or a surprise horde of hungry soccer-buddies, this is the stuff I would like to call on to make magic with plain pantry staples."

Andrea's Recipes ~ Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with Five Peppers & Ham "Everything is damp and the chill in the air makes for perfect soup weather, especially if it’s a little spicy like this one I warmed up for lunch. It tastes great with a slice of cornbread on the side or crumbled in the bowl, and makes me feel all warm inside. "

Farmgirl Fare ~ Garlic Lovers' White Bean Soup "But winter is when dried beans truly come into their own, and there are two reasons for this: temperature and time. If you are stuck indoors during a blizzard, the obvious thing to do is cook, and the obvious thing to cook is something that will simmer on its own for hours, fill the house with warmth and a heavenly aroma while it is simmering, and ultimately taste delicious. This thing is white bean soup."

From Whence the Sweet Bird Sang ~ Ham & Greens "As I was tasting them right before serving I think I had a little mouth orgasm. Oh yeah, that's right. They're that friggin' good. If you have a ham bone, make these."

Nola Cuisine ~ Monday Red Beans & Rice Recipe with Pickle Meat and Fried Pork Chops

And you?
And you, what's your favorite thing to do with a ham bone? Leave a recipe or a link to a recipe in the comments!

BlogHer food editor Alanna Kellogg bought a Christmas ham just for the bone. She plans to make Scandinavian Pea Soup.