Spicy Beans with Ham

"This is great served in a bowl with some good old fashioned cornbread." Submitted by Lloyd Rushing of Texas City, Texas USA.

Recipe Ingredients:

3 pounds dried beans (pinto, large or small lima, great northern, or navy)
3 pounds diced ham (picnic hams are just as good, smoked ham hocks are even better)
1/4 stalk of celery chopped
3 large onions or 3 cups of chopped green onions
1 large bell pepper chopped
2 (10-ounce) cans RoTel brand tomatoes (tomatoes with chilies)
Salt to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons liquid smoke
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds 1-inch diced potatoes

Cooking Directions:

1. In a 12 quart pot, soak beans overnight. Drain, and cover with 8-inches of water. Add all ingredients, except potatoes. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until beans start to get tender.
2. Add potatoes and cook until potatoes are tender approximately 30 minutes.

Makes 24 hearty servings.

Note: "This recipe freezes well, so if this is more than you want for a meal, freeze some." - Lloyd Rushing.