Recipe of the Week - Crock Pot Beans

I love food and I like to cook.   I especially like to experiment with different recipes.  More on myself than on my husband.  There are three people living in our home and we all have different kinds of diets.  My mother likes foods that she grew up eating, I am a vegetarian and my husband, well, he likes to eat almost anything, especially if it mooed, oinked or cackled in its former life.

Cool snake.  I like snakes.

I'm sure I have gotten the attention of some vegetarians out there, but frankly, I love my husband more than life itself and I love cooking for him.  If he wants meat I will cook meat for him.  He has his own tastes when it comes to vegetables, though, he doesn't like any cooked greens or any kind of squash, but otherwise he is very easy to please.  He respects my choice of diet and I respect his.  I believe mutual respect in a marriage is the number one priority.

Today I am starting my Recipe of the Week posting.  I decided to do this every Friday.  The recipes will always be vegetarian or vegan and I guarantee they will be delicious.  One night a week I make a meatless meal for my husband, too.  One thing we both love is beans so making a meatless meal with beans is as easy as can be.

 
The following recipe can be cooked on the stove top or in a crock pot.  I do not presoak my beans.  They cook just fine without being presoaked, it just takes them a little longer.  You will also note that I do not always include measurements.  Your measurements will basically depend on how many people you are serving.  Just adjust the recipe accordingly.

Crock pot Beans

1 cup of washed dry beans (you can use pinto, navy, kidney, black beans, lima, or any beans of your choice).  You can also use more than one variety.
1 chopped onion
1 - 2 cloves chopped garlic
Seasonings to taste include salt, black and red pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder or paprika.  This is your call on what you want to season your beans with.
Water or vegetable broth - you want enough liquid to cover the beans by at least two inches.

Place all in the ingredients in a crock pot early in the morning and set it on high.

This method of cooking takes about 8 hours.  They will keep well on the warm setting until you are ready to serve.

If  you decide to cook this on the stove it takes only takes about four hours.  Just as good and declicious.

Garnish with chopped onions, shredded cheese, chopped hot or sweet peppers or sour cream for extra richness.

Serve with cornbread and fresh vegetables that are in season.

I will also share this easy cornbread recipe my mother has used for years.

Easy Cornbread

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  While it is heating up put 1/4 cup of canola oil in a cast iron skillet* and place it in the oven.

Mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornmeal, 4 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Once mixed add 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk and the hot oil from the skillet.

Stir until you do not see any dry particles in the batter.  Do not over mix.

Place the batter in the skillet and bake for about 25-30 minutes.

*I use an eight inch skillet.  If you do not have a cast iron skillet you can bake this in any oven proof dish.  By putting the oil in the dish first you do not have to pre-grease it.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do.  Let me know if you have any questions.  You will see by my recipes how easy it is to make vegetarian meals for you and your family.

Have a wonderful weekend.  I hope to see you back here on Monday.

SCL

"Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans,

 lentils, millet, and spelt;  put them into one vessel,

and make bread of them for yourself."

Ezekiel 4:9a