Beans are very healthy, budget friendly, easy to cook.  Beans can be used in many different recipes.  Beans are high in protein, fiber, iron and minerals.

Growing up everyone we knew always cooked a pot of Pinto beans.  You can serve the beans as a side dish or turn them into a variety of dishes like charro beans, refried beans, bean dip, and chili.  Black beans can be substituted in most pinto bean recipes.

Great White Northern or Navy beans are mild creamy-white beans that are very good as a side dish with pork, in soup, or baked beans.

Dry beans store almost indefinitely if they are kept in a cool, dry place. If the beans have been stored for a year or more, you may need to cook them a little longer.

If you want the beans to cook in a shorter amount of time, you can sort through and clean the beans and soak them overnight in enough water to cover them.  Drain the water the beans were soaked in and continue with the recipe.

Pinto Beans

Ingredients

1 lb. Pinto beans
1 smoke ham hock or 3-4 pieces of bacon
1 tsp salt
water to cover ham hock

Preparation

Slow Cooker

Sort through the beans and remove any pebbles, or defective beans.   Rinse the beans a couple of time to make sure they are clean.  Drain the water from the beans.

Put beans in the slow cooker.  Add the ham hock or bacon.

Fill the slow cooker with water about 2 inches above the beans and ham hock.

Cover the beans and bring to a boil on high. When beans begin to boil, turn the slow cooker to low. Cook the beans 8-10 hours.

About one hour before the beans are done, add the salt and stir.  Taste the beans to make sure they are salted enough for your taste.

The beans should be tender when done.  Stir a couple of times while the beans are cooking.   Add water as needed to keep the water above the ham hock.

One pound of dry beans makes around 5-6 cups cooked beans.  Cooked beans can be frozen and used in other dishes.

Large Pot

Follow the directions above.  When the beans begin to boil, turn the stove to simmer.

Cook the beans 5-6 hours on the top of the stove.

Variations

Black beans, Great White Northern beans, and kidney beans can all be cooked using the pinto bean recipe.