Place the beans, water, and 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil in a Dutch oven or ovenproof saucepot, Boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, and let the beans soak for 1 hour.
Brown the ground beef, and remove fat. Add the beef to the pot of beans, and stir in the remaining ingredients. Season to taste.
Cover the pot with the lid, and bake at 350 degrees F for 3 to 4 hours until the beans are tender. Uncover the beans, and bake another 30 minutes to form a crust.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from "Cooking Accross the South," Oxmoor House, 1980.