combine beans, salt, and water to cover in a large pot, over a high flame heat to a boil, cook for 5 minutes, remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 hour drain, rinse, and drain well combine beans, 2 quarts water, and sausage or ham hocks heat to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 2-3 hours add remaining ingredients-mix well season to taste simmer for 30 minutes, until beans and sausage or hocks are tender remove sausage or hocks from beans cut into bite-size pieces, discarding bones, and return to pot serve hot, with hot buttered cornbread to the side ----