Malcolm's Soon-to-be-Famous Ham & Beans (with a Becky Twist!)

I posted this recipe for my friends on Facebook and decided to also share it with my blog readers too.  This tastes absolutely amazing!!!  You will need a 6-quart crock pot for this... minimum... and it will be totally full! This makes enough for at least 3 meals for a family of 4 and costs under $10 total! :)

INGREDIENTS:
1 small pkg each black beans, great northern white beans, red kidney beans (can also subsitute pinto, navy or any other favorite type of beans)
5 tsp powdered ham boullion (use beef if you can't find ham)
1 pound thick cut bacon (cut into 1" sqauare pieces)
1 pound cooked ham (cubed)
6 oz sliced shitake mushrooms
1 yellow onion (diced)
4-5 red potatoes (peeled and diced) <-- these are important!  They cut down the fart-factor after eating so many beans and make it possible to still hang out with the people you ate with... without nose plugs!!!

DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare beans. You can either follow the package directions or use the quick prepare method. To quick prepare, place all beans together in a large pot, fill with water, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and boil 1 hour.
2. Drain beans and place in crock pot with about 6 cups of water (leave about 2 inches room on the top) and boullion.
3. Heat in crock pot on high several hours (4-8)
4. Add remaining ingredients, stir and recover. Note: bacon can be put in raw as it will cook through very quickly in the hot water.
5. Turn crock pot down to low and cook another 8-12 hours.

Serve with warm corn bread smothered in butter (or non-dairy butter substitute in our house) and honey.  I also like to sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese on my ham & beans (and sometimes on the cornbread instead of honey).