Pinto Beans

     Dried beans are a staple I grew up with and the versatile food remains in my pantry today.  They are easy to cook and keep almost indefinitely.  I've used both methods when cooking them.  Most of my life I've cooked them in a pot on top of the stove  With my small living space cooking beans on the stove top generates too much heat in the house so I' started using a slower cooker or crock pot to cook beans.  This cooking method takes longer but that does not mater to me.  Once started you never have to check on them until the cooking time is up, making for a great way to cook beans while you are gone for the day The secrets to cooking a good pot of beans in a crock pot is first getting the correct amount of water in the slower cooker and second cooking them for the correct amount of time, never over cooking them  Either way you choose to cook beans they are a wonderful food so cook some this week. Paula Dean's Pinto Bean crock pot recipe is my favorite.  The only thing I change is substituting chicken broth for the ham hocks.  Remember never add more that the required water level and stick with the correct cooking time,  never over cooking one bit  This cooking method is not as good as when cooking the beans on the stove top but it's close and sure works for me.

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry pinto beans
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 pound ham hocks, or 1/4 pound streak o' lean
• 4 cups water
• 1 onion, chopped
• House Seasoning, recipe follows

• House Seasoning:

  1 cup salt
  1/4 cup black pepper
  1/4 cup garlic powder
  Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
  Yield: 1 1/2 cups

• Directions

  Wash the beans and soak overnight in cold water. Drain the beans and dump into slow cooker. Stir in chili powder and oregano.

  If using ham hock: Pre-soak ham in a separate pot, for at least 2, or refrigerated up to 24 hours, depending on how salty you want your stock to be. Add ham hock to slow cooker with beans and pour in ham soaking liquid. Add more water until ham hock is completely covered.

  If using streak o' lean: Cut into cubes, brown in a skillet, and place the meat and any rendered fat in the slow cooker with beans. Pour 4 cups water into pot.

  Add onion to slow cooker with beans and meat. Stir well. Season, to taste, with House Seasoning, cover the pot, and cook on high until beans are very tender, about 5 hours