Bean & Ham Hock soup

• 1 1/3 lb dried beans
• 1 water
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 large Ham Hocks
• 3 tsp salt (more or less to your liking)
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp Italian seasoning mix

1. Cover beans with water, by about an inch or more.
2. Set aside for 8 hours to soak.
3. 3 hours before beans are done place ham hocks in a pot, cover with water.
4. Bring hocks to a boil, cover, turn down to a simmer.
5. Check water level periodically to add more if required.
6. When hocks have simmered for 3 hours, pull hocks out, place I a plate to allow to cool.
7. Place soaked beans in large pot.
8. Adds 8 cups of hock broth and water.
9. Bring beans to a boil, turn down heat to a simmer, cover.
10. Stir ever 10-15 minutes
11. After hocks cool down, remove bones, shred/chop meat and skin to bit sized pieces.
12. After beans have simmered 1 1/2 hours)
13. Chop one large onion (yellow or sweet is what I usually use), add to beans, stir
14. Adds ham hocks to beans, stir
15. If using a premixed add season packet.
16. Or add spices in ingredients list, not both!
17. Simmer for 30 minutes, serve

beans, water, onion, ham hocks, salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, tomato, ground black pepper, italian seasoning mix

Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/369131-bean-ham-hock-soup (may not work)