Fiesta Beans

Directions

1. 1
   Place the beans in a large bowl and cover them with cold water.
2. 2
   Set them aside and let them soak for 5 to 6 hours or overnight.
3. 3
   Drain and rinse the beans, and then place them in a large pot.
4. 4
   Add the garlic, green, orange and red bell peppers and the onions.
5. 5
   Cover them with about an inch of water, and then add the ham hock or bacon.
6. 6
   Next add the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
7. 7
   Stir to combine, and then bring the mixture to a boil.
8. 8
   Reduce the heat to low and simmer the beans until tender, about 2 hours.
9. 9
   Check the liquid level about halfway through the cooking process; if you'd prefer the beans to be less soupy, you can ladle off about a third of the cooking liquid.