Pinto Beans With Liquid Smoke Food

THE SECRET TO PERFECT OLD FASHIONED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the bag of beans well and remove any that look like they are past their prime. If unsure - chuck it.
• Pour the beans into a large bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water and allow to soak overnight. Alternately, you can boil the beans at a steady boil for about 10 minutes before you begin to cook them. Whether you soak or parboil, pour the water off from this step.
• In a six quart stock pot on medium heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic until they smell really good and the pieces become translucent.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add the beans, bacon, salt, chicken broth concentrate, one bay leaf and sugar and enough cool clean water to cover the beans by 2 inches. (If you are sensitive to salt, then you can always decrease the amount)
• Heat the beans on medium until they come to a light boil then reduce the heat to low.
• Stir the beans occasionally and don't let them get to a strong boil. Cook until done. I tell doneness by tasting - you could also spoon some out and smash it in your fingers. If it is smashy- through and through - they are done.

EASY SMOKE-FLAVORED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• You will find a package of smoked turkey neck bones in the freezer section for about $2-3.
• Soak pinto beans overnight. Drain and rinse again.
• Pour drained beans into a 4-5 quart pot
• Add smoked turkey neck bones (or 2 smoked ham hocks)
• Cover with water that is 1-1/2 to 2 inches over the beans and neck bones bones or hocks.
• Bring to boil and then reduce heat to low and cover.
• Cook for about 5 hours until the beans are tender and the water is a kind of gravy.
• Check every hour or so to make sure that the water level is at least 1 inch higher than the beans.
• Remove from heat and remove neck bones or hocks.
• Serve with bread or rolls to dip into the gravy water.
• NOTE: This does very well cooking all day in a crock pot set on low in the morning.
• And the beans only taste better the next day and the next and the next.

SLOW COOKER BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Place pinto beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak for 6-12 hours.
• Once the beans have soaked, place them in your slow cooker.
• Add onion, bacon bits, and garlic to the slow cooker.
• In a separate bowl, mix together mustard, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, and liquid smoke.
• Pour over the rest of the ingredients in the slow cooker and mix.
• Cook on low from 6-8 hours, or until the beans are cooked all the way through.