from my maternal grandmother...
2 cups dry pea beans (assorted)
1 onion, diced
1/2 lb salt pork cut into 1" or smaller cubes
1 tsp baking soda
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp salt (less if using more salt pork)
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups (approx.) hot water
Cover beans with clean water and soak overnight OR cover beans with water, bring to a boil for 3 minutes, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Bring beans and water to a boil and add 1 tsp of baking soda to water - be careful! It will foam up and over if you aren't watching!
Drain. Rinse beans with cold water.
Using a crockpot/slow cooker or bean pot, put in bottom half the cubed salt pork and half the diced onion. Top with beans then the remaining salt pork and onion.
Mix all the rest of the ingredients in a large pitcher with the hot water and pour over the beans. If necessary, add more hot water to just cover the top of the beans.
Bake at 300 degrees in bean pot in oven OR on low in crockpot/slow cooker for 6+ hours or until done. Check beans every hour or so while cooking and add water if needed.
