Dried Lima Beans with Ham

1 lb dried lima beans
3 T olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
ca. 3 T flour (or Wondra)
ca. 1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 lb ham, cut into large cubes
1-2 garlic cloves, minced or garlic powder
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
1-2 cubes Knorr vegetable bouillon

1. Rinse and sort the beans. Do not soak.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Sauté the onion until translucent. Add flour and paprika and cook, stirring, for a minute. (You can also skip this and just add the rest of the ingredients. When it gets hotter, add the Wondra and paprika and stir well. Adjust to desired thickness.)
3.Add some water, stirring well to avoid lumps. Add the beans, ham, garlic, bay leaves, salt, pepper, bouillon cubes and water to cover.
4. Bring to a simmer and cook gently, for about 1 1/2 hours, until beans are tender and beginning to break down. You will probably need to add water several times during this process.
5. Remove the bay leaves before serving.