Pinto Beans

Next to Chili, the best thing to eat with cornbread is...

A Big Pot of Pinto Beans!

Even before the invention of crock pots, my mom made a pot of beans nearly every day. They simmered on the stove and smelled wonderful.

We used to sit at the table in the morning with our breakfast and "sort out" the beans. They had rocks in the bags! We had to make sure no rocks made it to the colander where we put the dried beans to be washed. We would sometimes have quite a little pile of rocks to throw out after the sorting. Mom said the farm workers would put the rocks in the bags because it was easier than sorting them while picking and they got paid by the weight so a few rocks just increased their meager wages.

After the beans were washed, maybe two to four cupfuls of the spotted dried beans, she put them in the pot to "soak". This soaking was sometimes done overnight, but mom had a trick up her sleeve. Bring the beans and enough water to cover the beans to a boil, then turn the heat off and let the beans soak for a couple of hours. This method worked just fine.

After the "soak", pour off the water (and hopefully the gas causing ingredient of beans in general), then cover the beans with fresh water and bring to a slow boil. Add some salt pork which flavors the beans. Add a bit of salt and pepper. Add a whole chopped up onion. Texas onions are very flavorful and my mom said I used to eat them like most people eat apples - raw. She said I would rather eat a whole onion than candy! I must have been a very confused child. I also wondered if Pinto beans came from Pinto horses.

Add garlic too, fresh smushed cloves to taste. We liked a lot of garlic. Some people would add sugar to their beans. This was supposed to reduce the gas causing ingredient, but I think they just liked the sugar. My mom did not use sugar in her pots. Simmer the beans all day or at least for four hours. Check and stir as needed. More water may be needed if the beans start soaking up all of the water. These steps are no longer needed so much if you use a crock pot. You can just set it and forget it.

When the juice turns brown and thickens a bit, and the beans are soft and smelling good, they're done! Serve in a bowl with fresh cornbread and home fries on the side.

#texas