Simple Pinto Bean And Ham Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 ham bone, leftover from 13 lb country ham
12 quarts water
5 bay leaves
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
1 onion, rough chopped
2 cups pinto beans, washed and picked over
water, to cover beans

Preparation

Place ham bone in a 12 quart soup pan.
Add the water, bay leaves, celery seed, mustard seed, and chopped onion.
Bring to a boil.
Boil for about an hour, lower heat to a simmer.
Add red pepper flakes.
Cover and continue to simmer for an addition 17 hours.
Skim any skum from top as simmering progresses.
Meanwhile place pinto beans in a large pan and cover with water .
Soak beans over night or at least 8 hours.
Remove lid from ham broth.
Add beans and enough water to bring back up to starting volume of liquid.
Bring back to a boil.
Simmer uncovered for 2 hours.
Serve.