Beans are a magical fruit! Dried beans are easy to cook, and beans are a little powerhouse of nutrition. Eat your beans!

Ingredients:
1 lb. white beans, rinsed well
1 medium onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced
2 small ham hocks, or diced ham, or cooked bacon (whatever you have)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp pepper
Salt to taste
Water

Instructions:
Do not add salt until the very end.

In a large pot, add beans, garlic, bay leaves, pepper and onion. Add water to fill the pot 2/3 to the top. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.

After beans have begun to soften – about an hour, add in ham hocks and carrot. After beans have fully softened – about another 45 minutes, pull out the ham hocks, cut off any meat and return the meat to the pot.

Taste, and adjust salt as needed.

Eat well!
~CPM