Ingredients

• 6 C Water
• 2 chicken bullion cubes
• approx 1/2 lb left over ham (or a meaty ham bone)
• 2 C pinto beans (soaked overnight)
• 1 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 TBS Chili powder
• 1 TBS Sugar
• 2 1/2 TBS Maple Syrup
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 sm can diced green peppers

Instructions

• In a large pot combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
• Reduce to a simmer and cook for 4 hours or until tender.
Variations:
• Combine all ingredients and cook in a crockpot for 6-8 hours.
• Use ham, beef or vegetable bullion instead of chicken.
• Use sausage, bacon or pork instead of the ham-or leave it out all together.
• Subsitute another mild bean such as great northern for the pintos.
• Use Honey instead of Maple Syrup.
• Combine all the sweeteners in any way you like as long as they equal about 3 1/2 tbs
• Like kick? Increase the chili powder, use a real jalenpeno pepper instead of the mild canned, or add a dash of tabasco.
• Increase your veggies by adding a 1/2 C chopped celery, and/or a drained can of stewed/diced tomatoes