Recipe for "chuck-wagon"

NAME

     CHUCK-WAGON - A Hearty Bean Stew
     I got this recipe from A Primer on Bean Cookery by the Cali-
     fornia  Dry  Bean  Advisory  Board  and other organizations.
     This savory stew,  featuring  ham  and  beans,  borrows  its
     robust  seasonings  from  the  chuck  wagon cooks of the old
     western cattle ranges.  The secret is  long,  slow  cooking,
     and  your  electric  slow-cooker is ideal for the job.  Just
     follow the directions that come with your particular  model.
     If  you  don't have one, slow-cook the mixture on top of the
     stove in a heavy pot with a lid.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 6)

     500 g     any variety of dry bean
     1         ham hock or shank
     1         large onion chopped
     1.5 l     water
     5 ml      salt
     200-300 ml
               green chili salsa (or tomato sauce, or  canned  or
               stewed tomatoes)

PROCEDURE

          (1)  Rinse the beans and remove any foreign matter.
          (2)  Mix all ingredients in the cooking vessel.
          (3)
          If Using A Slow-Cooker:
               Cover, set temperature at low, and forget  for  at
               least 10 hours.  If you have only half a day, cook
               the mixture 5 or more hours on high.
          If Using A Stove:
               Heat  all  ingredients   to   boiling   with   pot
               uncovered.   Turn  down  heat,  cover,  and simmer
               gently, adding enough boiling water to keep  beans
               well covered.  Most bean varieties will be done in
               2 to 3 hours.
          (4)  When beans are done, take out ham  bone,  cut  off
               the meat, and put it back into the pot.  Serve hot
               with corn bread or muffins.

NOTES

     Green chili salsa is a Mexican sauce made from  green  chili
     peppers, onions, vinegar, and other ingredients.

RATING

     Difficulty: Easy Time: 5  minutes  preparation,  many  hours
     cooking.  Precision: no need to measure.

CONTRIBUTOR

     Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
     "Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent..."
     {amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff
     {ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff