Are there any simple recipes for cooking navy beans?

A friend gave me a bunch of dry navy beans, and I don't really know how to cook them. I was hoping to find a recipe that allows me to simply put them in a slow cooker and cook for a long, long time without having to attend to it at all. Is this possible, or do I always have to do multiple steps like boiling them first before putting them in the slow cooker. I'm not home a lot, so these long, drawn out cooking times are somewhat prohibitive. Any suggestions? Are there any simple recipes for cooking navy beans?
You can't skip the water step in the beginning because the bean being dried must rehydrate before it will cook. if you skip the first step your beans will not get tender


what I do is soak with the long method, put them (1lb beans) in cold water in a very large bowl cover with a clean towel and leave in sink right before bed next morning I rinse and put in crock pot with 1 lb ham diced or cooked bacon crushed 1 med onion diced 2 med carrots cut roughly 2 med russet potato skin on cut roughly fill with water to 1 inch from top put on high then get ready to go to work (30 min) turn to low and cook all day


when you get home check for tenderness if not there turn to high and bake boxed corn bread muffinAre there any simple recipes for cooking navy beans?
NAVY BEAN SOUP





1 lb. navy beans, cook the usual way until tender





Meanwhile: Put about 2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil in a saucepan and add:





1 c. finely chopped onion


1 c. finely chopped celery


4 to 6 med. sized carrots, finely diced


1 can tomato paste (small)





Cook until vegetables are tender, adding a little water if needed. Mix the vegetables with the cooked beans. You may puree the beans and other vegetables in the blender or processor if desired.


Make the soup as thick or as thin as you desire by adding more water for a thinner soup. This is good ';as is'; BUT I add one or two dried peppers to my navy beans for a little added ';zip'; if I am or am not using them for soup.





OR





NAVY BEANS AND SMOKED TURKEY





2 lb. smoked turkey


2 c. dried navy beans


1 sm. onion


Salt and pepper





Place meat in large saucepan. Cover with water. Simmer until meat is tender. Remove meat from broth. Add navy beans, whole onion, salt and pepper. Simmer until beans are tender. Add additional water as needed.


Remove meat from bones. Stir into beans. Simmer on low heat until beans mash easily with fork and broth has thickened. 6 servings





OR





SMOKED SAUSAGE WITH NAVY BEANS





Brown sausage in small chunks (I use smoked turkey sausage). Add:





Navy beans (1 qt. Northern pre-cooked)


Onions, chopped


Green peppers, chopped (optional)


1 lg. can tomatoes, (1 qt.)


Lots of basil - approximately 2 tsp.





Heat through and enjoy. Sometimes I add rice or kidney beans, too





JM