I use hamburger or chicken, I soak a bag of beans over night, rinse them well and put them in a big crock pot on high. I add the meat, onions, diced canned tomatoes, and any fresh raw old looking veggies in the fridge like carrots, celery, no potatoes. When the beans start to get soft I add a can of green beans, corn, peas and anything else I have in the pantry that I like.