ARIZONA COWBOY BEANS - FROM SCRATCH

ARIZONA COWBOY BEANS - from scratch image

Provided by Nancy J. Patrykus

Time 4h

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 pkg (16 oz) dry pinto beans
1 small smoked ham hock...about 8oz.
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 can(s) chopped mild green chilies.. (4 to 4.5 oz.)
2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
about 5 -1/2 cups water

Steps:

1. Rinse beans under cold rinning water and discard any stones or shriveled beans. **Hint: Take the pork hock and inclose it in a clean piece of cheese cloth. Tie it into a bag. This will keep the skin bones, and meat together, and not running wild in the beans. In a 4 quart saucepan,combine beans,hock in bag, onion,chiles with their liquid, oregano and salt. Add water 1 inch above beans. Heat to a boiling over high heat. reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 1-1/2 hours. Stirring occasionally,adding more water as needed. Add 1-1/2 cups of more water to saucepan, cover and simmer 2 hours longer, or until beans are tender and liquid has thickened.Stirring occasionally,and adding more water as necessary to prevent sticking. With a slotted spoon,transfer ham hock to a cutting board. Cut and pull meat from the hock and finely chop (ONLY THE MEAT)...discard bones,fat and skin. Stir meat into beans and serve. Corn bread goes well with this dish. And hot sauce on the side...as needed. ** I think next time I will try to adjust this recipe for crockpot cooking.