BEANS AND HAM HOCKS RECIPES

Steps:

• Sort through dry beans removing any sticks, stones or other foreign items.
• Soak beans in water overnight.
• Drain beans, rinse under cold water and set aside.
• Place the cooked ham bone or ham hocks in a large sauce pan.
• Add the dry beans.
• Add enough water to cover the beans and bones by about three inches.
• Place over medium heat, bring to a low boil and let cook for one hour.
• Remove the bone, set aside and let cool.
• Add chopped onion.
• Add chopped celery.
• Add sugar.
• Add salt.
• Add Black Pepper and stir well.
• Remove any meat from the bone and discard the bone.
• Return the meat to the pot with the beans.
• Continue to cook the beans until they are soft and tender.
• Taste the beans and add additional salt and/or black pepper to taste.
• Mix flour and water, removing any large lumps as you stir.
• Stir the mixture in the beans and let cook for a few minutes longer to thicken.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

Steps:

• Add beans WITHOUT seasoning packet, chicken broth and water to a slow cooker then stir to combine. Add ham hocks and onion pieces to cooker, cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Set seasoning packet aside.
• Add seasoning packet and remaining spices to cooker, stir to combine, then cover and continue cooking for 2-4 hours or until beans are very tender.
• Remove ham hocks to cool. Remove onion pieces then discard if desired.
• Ladle out 2-3 cups of beans and broth then mash until smooth either with the back of a fork, a potato masher or whatever else gets ‘er done. Add mashed beans back to cooker and stir well.
• Turn off cooker and let beans rest, uncovered, for one hour. Don’t worry, they will still be plenty hot when it’s time to eat. Doing this just allows the broth to thicken up and things to get extra creamy.
• Meanwhile, remove meat from ham hocks, shred or cut into small pieces then stir into beans.
• Serve with fresh diced onions (and cornbread if you have it!)