Lima Beans with Hamhock

This is a story that I was ask to share on my lima bean making skills...I was blessed to have a mom that stayed at home and cooked really good southern food. There were four of us kids and she definetly had her hands full. Each night there was a pot of Lima Beans on the table. My dad did not think it was a meal unless there were Lima Beans on the table. Well, one day mom thought it was time for her to go outside the home and help my dad make a living so she up and got herself a job...now keep in mind, I had only watched her cook... she had never allowed me to cook anything! But off to work she went and I had explicit instructions to watch over my 2 younger brothers and sister and to put the lima beans on to cook and DO NOT BURN THEM! Well, as you can guess, I scorched the mess out of them. My mom comes home and finds her kitchen very stinky and the beans are burnt to a crisp and stuck to the pot. She was a little irritated but forgiving. The next day again she gives me the same instructions, (and did I fail to mention...I am only about 13 years old) and once again I scorch those stinking beans. Mom arrives home and let's just say she is not as forgiving as the day before...She knows that I am not watching the beans, or the beans would not have burned. Day 3 same instructions, but my mom tells me if the beans burn today she is going to spank my bottom cause she is certain I am not watching the beans close enough. Well here comes my cousin Teresa over for a visit...so I put the Lima Beans on and she and I commence to have our most important conversation, (after all,  we have things to discuss whether my mom thinks so or not) and pretty soon we are smelling those beans and they are very stinky...my heart drops. If mom says you are getting a spanking a spanking you will get...I knew I was in big trouble. I looked at my cousin and I told her my dilemma and then I said you know what I am going to do with these here beans and she said, "" no what" and I said, " I am taking them outside I am going to dig a hole and I am going to bury them and start over"...After swearing her to secrecy that is exactly what I did!!! After that though I learned to make a mean pot of Lima Beans and the secret to not letting them burn is medium heat and lots of water:) Hope you will give these hearty beans a try...This story was just for you Teresa along with the recipe. I hope you will enjoy them.


1 small pack of dry baby limas
2 pieces of hamhock
1/2 tsp lard
8 cups water
1/4 cup onion diced
Salt and Pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a large stockpot and boil on medium heat for 2-3 hrs. Stir often and add water as water level drops and broth starts to thicken. Beans are done when they are fork tender and there is a nice thick broth gravy. Serve with rice or a hot homemade biscuit.