Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Smoked Ham Shanks with MM's Cornbread

This is a comfort food dish, to be sure, but be alerted that it takes 2-3 days. The beans are even better the day after cooking. Editor's note: I made this last week, and it garnered RAVE reviews by all who tried it!! Also, for any new readers (and Welcome!), any changes I make are denoted by an asterisk*.
(makes 10-12 servings)

Pinto Beans:
1 lb. dry pinto beans
1 t. chili powder
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 lb. smoked ham shanks or hocks
4 cups water
1/2 sweet* onion, chopped
1/2 red* onion, chopped
3-4 cloves minced garlic
3-4 sprigs thyme*
1 bay leaf*
1/2 t. freshly* ground pepper
1 t. kosher salt
5-6 Sorrel leaves*

Rinse and soak the beans overnight or for 2 days*. If soaking for 2 days, change the water every day. Put the ham shanks in a zip lock baggie with enough water to cover and put in the fridge overnight. Drain the beans and add to the slow cooker. Add in the ham with the soaking water. Add the chili powder, oregano onion, garlic, thyme sprigs, bay leaf, and pepper. Add enough water to cover by 2". Cover and cook on high 6-8 hours (check the beans after 5-6). The last hour of cooking time, add in the salt and sorrel.

MM's Cornbread:
1 package Jiffy Cornbread
1 egg, lightly beaten with a fork
1/3 cup milk
1 small can mild chopped green chiles, drained
1/2 cup 4 shredded Mexican cheese or shredded sharp cheddar
Smoked paprika
Coconut Oil Cooking Spray
Softened Kerrygold butter

Put the dry mix into a large bowl. Add in the egg, milk, green chiles, and cheese. Mix well. Spray a square baking dish with cooking spray, and spoon in the cornbread mixture. Smooth out the top and sprinkle on the smoked paprika. Cook, according to box instructions, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. When you take the cornbread out of the oven to cool on a wire rack, spread the butter all over the top. YUMOLA!!!!

"Don't get mad. Don't get even. Do better. Much better! Rise above. Be so engulfed in your own success or helping others* that you forget it ever happened."

Have FUN today!!!!

Love,

Machete Milletti