Bean Soup For 6 - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. beans
1 1/2 lb. ham hocks
6 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt
2 qt. cold water (more water as needed)

Preparation

Rinse beans.
In a large pot, cover beans with 2 quarts cold water.
Bring to boil; boil gently for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat; let stand 1 hour.
Add seasonings.
Boil gently until beans are tender (3 to 3 1/2 hours).
Add onion the last 1/2 hour.
Cut ham off beans and return to soup.
Serve hot with hot cornbread or corn muffins.