This recipe is a home favorite and comes to us courtesy of Paula Deen.

1 pound dry pinto beans
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 pound ham hocks, or 1/4 pound Country Ham
4 cups water
1 onion, chopped

House Seasoning, recipe follows
Wash the beans and soak overnight in cold water. Drain the beans and dump into slow cooker. Stir in chili powder and oregano.

Hint: If you want a little more 'kick' in your pot add some crushed red pepper flakes to taste!

If using ham hock: Pre-soak ham in a separate pot, for at least 2 hours, or refrigerated up to 24 hours, depending on how salty you want your stock to be. Add ham hock to slow cooker with beans and pour in ham soaking liquid. Add more water until ham hock is completely covered.

If using sliced country ham: Cut into cubes, brown in a skillet, and place the meat and any rendered fat in the slow cooker with beans. Pour 4 cups water into pot.

Add onion to slow cooker with beans and meat. Stir well. Season, to taste, with House Seasoning, cover the pot, and cook on high until beans are very tender, about 6 hours.

House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Serving suggestion: garnish with onion and/or chives

Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share? Email it to: OSSJournal@ossone.com. If your recipe is chosen you'll receive a Free "Thank You" gift so be sure to include your name and address!

With the introduction of business casual attire and "Dress-Down Fridays," the line between proper attire for the workplace has blurred. No one knows what to wear anymore, especially when it comes to dressing for success.

One important point to remember, when dressing in either business or business casual attire, is that quality is much more important than quantity. One classic bracelet or ring, for example, will impress your employer or client more than an armful of bangles or rings on every finger. In the same vein, a good quality leather portfolio will impress more than a loud, colorful bag.

Another, is that business casual can mean different things to different employers. There is no strict definition of the phrase. In some cases, business casual attire means pressed khakis and a button- down collared long-sleeved shirt. To other companies, it might mean dress jeans and a polo shirt.

In general, the following is appropriate attire for dressing in business casual.

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One of the things I enjoy most about Spring is that it is time to plant new roses. Here are some suggestions if you are going to plant roses in your garden this year.

Bare-root roses should be received as close to planting time as possible. If the roses arrive early, check that the packing material is moist and keep them in a cool, dark place. Before planting, soak bare- root roses in a bucket of water for 8-12 hours to help rehydrate the roots. If the canes are dehydrated, the whole plant may be immersed in water. After soaking, trim off any damaged or diseased roots. Botrytis, a grey mold, is a common disease found on the roots and canes of plants held in storage. In addition to pruning the roots, they may also be soaked in water to which the fungicide Daconil has been added.

Any cane thinner than a pencil should be removed. Buds are easy to spot as raised oval areas on the cane. Roots may need additional pruning to remove damaged portions or to fit the planting hole. Planting holes should be dug wide enough and deep enough to comfortably accept the roots of the plant. Make a cone-shaped mound of soil in the center of the hole to support the plant, with the bud union at soil level. I use a mixture of sand, compost and top soil. Fill the hole about 2/3 full of soil and add water, making a slurry of soil that gets between the roots. Do not tamp the soil, as this compacts it and destroys soil structure. After the water has drained down, add more soil and repeat the water fill process until the original soil level has been reached. Since the soil is loose, the plant will sink a little after planting, the bud union (crown) will end up 1-2 inches below soil level. This is where the bud union should be for roses because this helps to provide some winter protection for the bud union.

Roses are sometimes offered for sale in cardboard boxes labeled "plant them box and all." Experience shows that this practice often discourages quick rooting and establishment of the plant. There are two options for boxed roses. If the rose is planted in the spring and is still dormant, simply take it out of the box and treat it like a bare-root rose. If the plant has broken dormancy and is growing, cut the bottom off the box and set the rose in the hole at the proper depth. Then, cut through the sides of the box and carefully peel the box away. Refill the hole with soil and water.

Roses require regular watering. The general rule of thumb suggests that one inch of water be applied per week during the growing season. Hot temperatures would call for more frequent irrigation. The use of soaker hoses in rose beds is highly encouraged; water can be delivered in adequate amounts while keeping the foliage dry, preventing disease. The use of mulch around roses to help retain soil moisture is a practice that is highly encouraged. Mulch will also help keep soils cool and help retard weed growth. Materials such as wood chips, or cedar shavings (keeps away some pests) or peat make good mulches. More decorative materials such as shredded hardwood bark (cypress mulch is great) or cocoa bean hulls could also be used. Mulches should be applied about 2-3 inches deep and replaced as needed. Also, be sure to use a time-released fertilizer on a regular basis to encourage root development and hardiness. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping the foliage dry while watering. This helps prevent Black Spot, a disease that can defoliate your plants if not kept under control. You will need to develop a regular schedule of spraying for insect and disease control. There are several excellent products on the market for this purpose. As for the inevitable attack of the Japanese Beetles, buy a good stock of Beetle Bags, available in most home improvement garden centers, and buy plenty of replacement bags because the stores sell out of these every year and do not restock. This is an easy, safe and effective way of keeping your precious blooms from being destroyed by the ravenous beetles.

I could write many pages about my experiencesgrowing roses but neither space nor time permit. If you have any specific questions you would like to ask please email them to journaleditor@ossone.com and I’ll be glad to help.

Meet our Staff! Each month we will introduce you to one of our associates. This month our Featured Employee is Mrs. Kathy Brooks! Kathy is an Account Manager at OSS. She is married with three children and two grandchildren. Kathy loves to visit Maine in the summer and enjoys baking and spending time with her family. Kathy has been in the office products industry for over 20 years and she appreciates the family atmosphere of her work place at OSS. Her greatest ambition is to fulfill God's purpose in her life. You can write to Kathy at kbrooks@ossone.com. Thanks Kathy for your dedication and devotion!