Folks, I'd like to try cooking green beans the right way: for hours, with a smoked pork product, until they reduce to their yielding bean essence. Trouble is, I'm a Yankee and have never attempted such a feat. So my question are: in what approximate ratios are the pork, beans, and liquid (and other seasonings?) initially? and how long, really, do these get cooked? To grasp at staying on-topic, I'm planning to make these for Christmas dinner, with ham, biscuits (made with lard!), and chipotle-mashed sweet potatoes. And pie, some kind of pie. Please respond off-list if that seems more appropriate. Many thanks, Margo -- Margo Thompson Asst. Professor, Art History Art Department Williams Hall University of Vermont 72 University Place Burlington, VT 05405-0168 (802) 656-0667