re: Butter beans versus Lima beans

Small green were baby limas. Large green were butterbeans. Speckled are speckled butter beans. I love lady cream peas. I got some fresh shelled a few weeks ago. Heavenly.

I use some bacon grease and a smoked hock. Kartchner's smoked hocks are great. I add the hock to the bacon grease and saute that a bit, then I add onions and sweat those. Add whatever liquid I'm using after that and let the hock and onions simmer in that for about an hour before I add the peas or beans. Makes a great stock without overpowering the fresh taste of the peas or beans.

Same with purple hull peas. I haven't had the pinkeyes in a while, though. They're delicious, too.