PINTO BEAN AND HAM HOCK STEW

Steps:

• Soak beans overnight in water.
• Drain and pick out all bad beans or particles.
• Place beans in a stock pot with 4 cups of water.
• Add ham hocks and bring to a boil.
• Let beans and ham hocks boil for about 10 minutes and then turn down heat to medium.
• Add carrots, garlic, tomatoes, onion and celery.
• Cook for 4 hours on medium.
• By this time the ham hocks should be tender enough to take the meat off of the bone.
• Cut meat into little pieces the size of peas and return meat to soup.
• Discard bones.
• Add salt and pepper by measurement or to taste.
• Cook an additional 30 minutes to an hour to ensure the softness of beans.
• Enjoy!