BOLITA & PINTO BEANS

Soaking
Soak beans for four to eight hours, using three to four cups of water to each cup of beans. For a quick soak, add beans to water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for one to two hours. Discard soaking water, rinse and replace with fresh water.

Cooking Methods
Slow Cooker: Place in slow cooker with required amount of fresh water. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until tender.

Pressure Cooker: Place beans in enough fresh water to cover the beans. Follow manufacturer's instructions for your specific cooker. Our cooker takes 30 to 40 minutes at 10 lbs pressure.

Saucepan: Cover beans with fresh water and bring to a rapid boil; reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 2 to 3 hours until tender.

Cooking times will vary depending upon hardness of water and altitude.
Cooking time will be shortened when cooking Bolita beans.

Cooking Hints
·   Use distilled water in hard water areas to shorten cooking time.
·   Add salt during last hour of cooking or beans may toughen.
·   Add acidic ingredients such as, tomatoes, lemon juice, wine or vinegar,
    when beans are almost tender. Acids delay softening.
·   Cook beans slowly to prevent splitting the skin.

Ive's Bean Soup
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
1 quart canned tomatoes
˝ cup diced green bell pepper
˝ cup diced red bell pepper
3 cups cooked pinto or bolita beans (not drained)
1 cup white sweet corn (optional)
Water to desired consistency
Salt, pepper, oregano and cumin to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
Brown meat over medium heat in saucepan. Add onions and sauté. Transfer meat to a stock pot, add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve and top with cheese.

Fiesta Bean Pot
2 cups pinto or bolita beans
6 cups water
4 tablespoons olive oil
˝ cup bacon
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
˝ teaspoon oregano
˝ teaspoon cumin
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)

Cook beans until tender. Sauté onions with bacon until browned. Add remaining ingredients and 1 cup of water from beans and simmer 5 minutes. Add mixture to beans and cook covered for two hours on low heat or in slow cooker.