Crock Pot Pinto Beans with pickled vegetable relish

1 lb. pinto beans, rinsed, drained.  Check them carefully to remove any pebbles or beans that are shriveled 

1 ham hock

water to cover

Soak the beans overnight without enough water to cover by 2 - 3 inches.

The next morning, turn crock pot on high, drain beans and add to crock pot. 

Place ham hock to top of beans and cover with water by about 4 inches.

Let beans cook 5 - 6 hours on high or 6 - 8 hours on low.

Taste and add salt if needed during the last hour or so of cooking. Serve with cornbread.  

The recipe above is a great starting point. There are so many variations for this recipe.  You can use bacon or chopped ham instead of the ham hock.  

I topped mine with these.