Cherokee Succotash

1. Soak beans, if using dry ones, for 3-4 hours.
2. Bring the water to a boil then add the beans.
3. Cook at a moderate boil for 10 minutes then add the corn, ham hocks, salt & pepper, and onions.
4. Reducei heat and cook for 1 hour on a low heat.
5. Got this one from a friend from grad school.
6. He is a cultural anthropologist who also happens to be a Cherokee Amerindian.
7. His passion is cooking and this is a recipe that he assures me is genuinely ethnic to his people in North Carolina.
8. The changes from the items *'d are his not mine.
9. The measurements have been converted for us as well.
10. He claims we would like to measure out a hand- ful of this and a small pinch of that.