Grandma Virginia'S Buckaroo Beans

• 6 cups water
• 2 cups kidney or pinto beans
• 1 large onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2-1 pound ham
• 1 ham hock
• 2 cups (1 16-oz. can) whole canned tomatoes (drain partially, then cut up, roughly)
• 1 cup green peppers (chopped)
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• salt (to taste)

1. Soak beans in measured water overnight in a large pot. Next day, use beans and the water they soaked in as base.
2. To water/beans, add ham, ham hock, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
3. Add tomatoes, green peppers, chili powder, brown sugar, oregano and salt to taste. Bring to boil. Reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 2-2 1/2 hours.

water, kidney, onion, garlic, bay leaf, ham, ham hock, tomatoes, green peppers, chili powder, brown sugar, oregano, salt

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/grandma-virginias-buckaroo-beans-50112363 (may not work)