Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit...

Pinto Beans

What You Need:

1 16 oz package of Pinto Beans
3 slices of raw smoked Bacon
1 large whole Jalapeno (from the can, sliced with seeds intact)
1/2 tbsp Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1/2 tbsp Lawry's Garlic Salt

Rinse and sort your pinto beans. Remove and discard any rocks. Most, if not all, package directions tell you to pre-soak, or quick soak prior to cooking. I'm here to tell you I quit doing that.

I learned, by a stroke of luck, I did not need to do over night/quick soaking. A party came up and I needed to make some beans fast. I rinsed and sorted my pinto beans, threw them in my crock-pot, covered them with water and hoped they would be all right. They were not only all right; they were perfect!

Supposedly presoaking helps prevent the pinto beans from splitting. I never found it to be true. My beans always split horribly until that fateful day.

I tested this non-soak method of mine several times after, with several different brands, and every single time since my beans are always whole. Pretty amazing and quite a time-saver.

So, once you rinse and sort your pinto beans, put them in your crock-pot. Cover them with water, about an inch over the bean level.

Slice your raw bacon into 1-inch segments and toss it in.

Cover and turn the crock setting to high. Once it starts to get hot and steams, you should begin watching it carefully. Stir occasionally to prevent any sticking.

If your pinto beans get low on water, you need to add more. Make sure you only add HOT water to cooking beans. If you add cold or cool water to hot beans they will split.

After the beans have simmered for about 2 hours, reduce the crock heat to low. Continue stirring occasionally.

At about 4 hours of cooking, you add your sliced whole jalapeno, seasoned and garlic salts. (If you wish you could add 1/2 cup chopped onion, a 1/2-cup of your favorite Mesquite flavored BBQ sauce, or both, for a ranch styled pinto bean.) Stir well and continue to cook on low for 1 more hour.

These beans are mild, even with the jalapeno. You can add more jalapeno, if you like them hot. We never add salt or pepper; you don't have to. You can add more seasoned salt or garlic salt if you think it needs a little more punch.

Both Lawry's seasonings used in this pinto bean recipe are MSG free, which is better for your heart.

Pinto beans, like most beans, are a good source of fiber, which has been proven to lower cholesterol. For diabetics, adding pinto beans to meals may help keep blood sugar from increasing rapidly after eating.

It is a given that beans are virtually fat-free and a high quality protein. But did you know pinto beans are also an excellent source of folate, manganese, molybdenum, and vitamin B1? Pinto Beans also contain the minerals phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium, and copper.

All of this combined make pinto beans a good heart health food too! (Learn more benefits on WHFoods)

Want to have some fun? Read about "Beans, Beans the Musical Fruit!