Mom's Beans

Stephanie's Beans - Tammy's favorite comfort food beans with adjustments for crockpot.

• 1 pound dried pinto beans, rinsed and sorted for rocks

Soak overnight with fresh water, a palm full of salt and a pinch of baking soda

Next day;

• 2 carrots, peeled small dice
• 2 stalks celery, small dice
• 1 medium yellow onion, small dice
• 3 cloves garlic, rough small chop
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 TB oregano
• 1 TB cumin
• 2 TB chili powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 large ham hock
• 1 can 15oz tomato sauce
• 6 cups chicken broth

Drain beans. Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Set on low for 4 hours. Remove ham hock and set aside to cool. Check doneness of beans and adjust cooking time. Once ham hock has cooled slightly, remove meat and back to beans, discard bone.

Season to taste.

Serve with fried potatoes, hot sauce and a side cornbread with butter and maple syrup.