Brazilian Feijoada

Feijoada (pronounced "fei-ZVAH-da") is a delicious stew of pork and black beans, traditionally served with rice and fresh orange slices. In Brazil, this dish is often served on special occasions, but cooking in a slow cooker allows you to serve this hearty dish even on the busiest weekday evenings.
Put the black beans in a small saucepan; cover with cold water. Bring to a boil; cook the beans for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the water from the beans.Saute the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan; crumble. Sprinkle the pork evenly with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high. Transfer the pork to the skillet with the filling; saute for 8 minutes, until lightly browned on all sides. Transfer the pork to a 6-liter electric slow cooker. Sprinkle the ribs evenly with 1/8 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the ribs to the skillet; cook for 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Put the ribs in the slow cooker. Add the washed beans, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, onion, and the next 3 ingredients (including ham) to the slow cooker, stirring constantly. Cover and cook over low heat for 8 hours or until the beans and meat are tender.Remove the ribs from the slow cooker; let stand for 15 minutes. Separate the meat from the bones; chop the meat with 2 forks. Remove the bones. Discard the ham. Return the beef to the slow cooker. Add the vinegar and chopped bacon. Serve with orange slices.