Foo - Pinto Beans...........

As a child I never knew how poor we were, but at times there were pinto beans three times a day.

As an adult I have seldom eaten them but would like to try some again but I'm at a loss as to what to do with these little suckers. They are as hard as a rock and I've been told to soak them 24 hours, so I have some in a bowl. Now what do I do?

My goal is to end up with something not too mushy, that I can chop some onions into and cover with ketchup, and maybe remember my wonderful granddad who often served them up to me.

Any cooks out there?

Theyre great in burritos, yum.

http://tonova.typepad.com/thesuddencurve/images/festus_hagen.gif

"If you want to be a real cowboy, spit some tobaccy juice in there, and let it simmer."

They are the magical fruit.

If it is a one time thing, they sell them canned.

Small investment in case you decide you don't like them, because of your history with them, etc.

i love 'em. mom made them all the time....cooked them with bacon or pork roast in it yum.

if you buy them bagged, i believe the key is to soak them first.

Okay, you're soaking them. When you're done with that, put them in a heavy pot with some flavoring (chopped onion, salt pork - which is probably what grand-dad used- or a few slices of bacon) - the water should be at least 2 inches above the beans. Simmer for a few hours, and the water level should be about even with the beans - then add whatever else you want - a can of diced tomatos, chili powder, cumino - whatever your tastebuds desire.

apclassic9,

How long do I let these puppies soak? Co-workers have suggested 24 hours but that seems a very long time.

It depends upon your water. If you have soft water, 4 hours should do. Hard water, overnight, or add a teaspoon of baking soda and soak for 4 hours.

apclassic9,

Guess I'll find out the ph of my water. Thanks. Ill try these things around noon tomorrow.

What would I do without the four major food groups; Microwave, Canned, Take-Out, and Boil-In-Bag?

Starve?

Well, the doctor did tell me to lose forty pounds.

Of course I just changed doctors. The new one is a chunker like me.

A bit of epazote or kombu thrown in during boiling (remove the kombu afterward) can help to quell some of the more "explosive" effects.

bluebottle1,

Never heard of either of those items. Thank goodness for Google.

As for the explosive effects....as kids we said...

'Pinto Beans Are Good For The Heart, The More You Eat, The More You Fart.'

I am surprised that no one has told you that you must dump them on the counter and look for rocks in the beans. Hard to see the rocks, really small stones, mixed in but if you bite into ine you will obviously know it.

I'm not even going to mention that the package tells you to rinse and sift the beans for that reason. @#%#@ - i just mentioned that.

Folks,
I took them out of the package weeks ago and put them in a container that is roach proof. Hence, no clue as to how to deal with them. Thanks for everything.

Guess I will check for rocks tomorrow. Not the ones in my head either.

I'm not even going to mention that the package tells you to rinse and sift the beans for that reason. @#%#@ - i just mentioned that.


You did? Maybe I missed that chapter, @#%#@.

Guys,

Lets not get snippy just because I can't cook.

A fifty pound sack of pintos and a 50 pound sack of rice and I'm living for months on about $15. Pintos are great food, OK, so you get a bit gassy, that's what Beano is all about!

Shifty,

Eating like that might keep me single at a time when I'm looking for a gf.

However, it might help with any gas shortages we might have. Thanks.

SO, how did the beans turn out?

When cooking dry beans, I let them soak overnight, then cook them slow and low all day with whatever seasoning and additives sounds good at the time (onions, peppers, garlic, ham, etc). For canned beans, we just heat them up. If we have time, we may throw some diced onion in with the beans and cook till the onion is soft. Sometimes, I'll add a bit of hot sauce after they're on my plate.

You can cook dry beans in a pressure cooker much more quickly than by soaking, etc. My wife knows how, but I don't recall the process. It involves multiple water changes and such.

As for the gassiness, your body will adjust and it goes away. We eat beans nearly every day, in a variety of ways. It's not a problem. :)

Chris

Soak for a few hours then bring the water to a slow boil almost simmering. Bingo............you have some beans.

Cook a whole carrot in there as well, but don't eat the carrot!@ It gets rid of the flatulent effect of the beans as long as you don't eat the carrot. If you do though, Katie, bar the door!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

A dash of plain ol baking soda when you cook Pintos and Voila...No more "Oh my Gawd,What did you Eat?!?!"

A fifty pound sack of pintos and a 50 pound sack of rice and I'm living for months on about $15. Pintos are great food, OK, so you get a bit gassy, that's what Beano is all about!

I had to give em up. Never could figure out how to keep them from falling down in between the holes in my grill or how to fry them right the first time. :o

Cook a whole carrot in there as well, but don't eat the carrot!@ It gets rid of the flatulent effect of the beans as long as you don't eat the carrot. If you do though, Katie, bar the door!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Geeze, I have never heard that one. Add a carrot . . . I'm gonna try that.

Do the beans taste like carrot--I hope not because I hate carrots!

Geeze, I have never heard that one. Add a carrot . . . I'm gonna try that.

Do the beans taste like carrot--I hope not because I hate carrots!
It adds a sweeter flavor, not really carroty, but good. Remember DO NOT EAT THE CARROT!:eek:

beans bean, the magic legume
eat a bunch, and clear the room