Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas and Pork

1-1/2 cups dry black-eyed peas
4 small smoked pork hocks (1-1/2 lbs.)
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 medium green sweet pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
2 cups sliced okra or one 10 oz. pkg. frozen whole okra, thawed and cut
into 1/2" slices

Rinse black-eyed peas; place in a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover peas by 2". Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain
and rinse peas. In a 3-1/2, 4-, or 5- quart crockery cooker combine the black-eyed peas, pork hocks, broth, sweet pepper, onion, celery, bay leaves, and red pepper. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-5 hours. Add okra. Cover; let stand for 10 minutes or until okra is
tender. Remove pork hocks. When cool enough to handle, cut meat off bones; cut meat into bite-size pieces. Discard bones and bay leaves. To serve, stir meat into black-eyed pea mixture.