Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      pound         Dry beans -- {Pinto, red, Anasazi, Black eyed peas}
   1      pound         Sliced -- smoked ham hocks
   1      Tablespoon    Chives -- chopped
   1      medium        Onion -- chopped fine
                        Garlic powder -- to taste
                        Salt -- to taste
                        Pepper -- to taste
   1                    Celery stalk -- sliced very thin
     1/8  Teaspoon      Ginger -- powdered

Preparation:

{for vegetarians, ham-hocks are optional} Starting the night before... Wash and sort beans. Rinse well. Pour into crock-pot. Add ham-hocks. Cover with water to just below rim. Add other ingredients. Cover and turn on high. After 2 hours, check water, fill to below rim, if needed. Turn to low and let cook for at least 18 hrs. Before serving, stir well and remove ham-hock bones. Reminder: the longer it cooks, the better it tastes. Serve with fresh, hot cornbread, or garlic bread.