Spicy Crock Pot Green Beans with Country Ham

Crock pot cooking doesn't get any simpler than this recipe for Southern green beans seasoned with a smoked country ham hock and a dash of hot sauce. It's an excellent side dish for a cookout or barbecue, or with fried or blackened fish (shown here), or grilled pork chops, fried chicken, roast beef, and other hearty comfort foods -- even homemade mac & cheese!

Ingredients
1 smoked country ham hock, approx. 10-12 oz
2 lbs frozen cut green beans (Whole Foods sells them in 2-lb bags), do not thaw!
1 tsp (or to taste) all-purpose hot sauce or cayenne pepper sauce*
1 cup water

*Good hot sauce choices include Texas Pete (a mild vinegar pepper sauce made in North Carolina), Emeril's Kick It Up! Red Pepper Sauce (a zesty Cajun blend of cayennes and garlic), Tabasco Sauce (medium-hot heat), and Scorned Woman Hot Sauce (solidly hot but won't overpower your taste buds if used in moderation).

Place all ingredients into your crock pot in the order listed. Cover, set crock pot on High to cook 4 or 5 hours, or on Low to cook 6 to 8 hours (your cooking time may vary depending on your crock pot, and how well-cooked you like your beans). Do not uncover to stir until at least 3 hours into the cooking time for High, or 5 hours if on Low. Cook until the beans are tender and the meat pulls easily from the ham hock.

Before serving, remove ham hock, pull off the meat and stir it back into the beans (discard the bone and any gristle). Taste for balance and season with salt and/or pepper or a little more hot sauce, if you wish. Serve hot.  Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  If you want to win some FREE sauces, seasonings or other zesty condiments from the Carolina Sauce Company, be sure to bookmark this recipe because it will be featured as part of our September 1st Crock Pot Game on our Facebook page!