Fall is here, time for some beans!

[DWalt]

Back in my childhood, my mother made Senate Bean Soup. But I don't remember it containing mashed potatoes. Maybe there are different recipes depending on which party is in charge. I would always add ketchup and crumbled saltine crackers to it. And lots of black pepper. I love black pepper on anything.

 

[zeke]

But if we're talking about DRIED pinto beans there was always, ALWAYS, one constant...you must soak them in water overnight or they will never tender up. the two times I didn't bother to do that I reminded myself why.

.

Instant pot will soften up any bean in minutes, after it heats up.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Instant pot will soften up any bean in minutes, after it heats up.

Link please? ✌

 

[TeamPB]

I think I am starting to fall in love with all of you!

 

[coltle6920]

The wife has been asking for Senate Bean Soup (Navy beans thickened with left over mashed potatoes).

I keep forgetting to soak them (I only use dried). She won't eat quick soaked beans. Insists they make her too gassy.

In the fall I also do red beans and rice. I do pintos for my self, but I am the only one in the house that eats them.

I was taught you could soak beans overnight or boil them on the stove for 1 1/2-2 hrs. I prefer the stove method because while you're getting everything else ready the beans will be almost done making the overall cooking time less.

 

[coltle6920]

To heck with Texas style.
Chili is better with beans!

Especially with the price of beef nowadays.

 

[SMSgt]

No gas shortage on this forum.

 

[Chubbs103]

I was taught you could soak beans overnight or boil them on the stove for 1 1/2-2 hrs. I prefer the stove method because while you're getting everything else ready the beans will be almost done making the overall cooking time less.

That's what I was referring to as the quick soak.

Real or perceived, my wife won't eat them unless they have been soaked overnight.

 

[Narragansett]

I just about busted a gut laughing when I read this. I never heard it put quite like that before.

My mother was famous for her baked beans. When she died back in 1991, her recipe couldn't be found for awhile. But finally, my brother found Mom's recipe and sent it to me.

When I was living in Maryland, my aunt and uncle who lived in the same county decided to have a family get-together, and my dad was going to be there. So I decided I would try my first attempt at making Mom's baked beans. I brought my pot of beans from home, and when we were setting out the food Pop decided to try a sample of the beans I brought. It was with great joy I heard Pop pronounce "These are just like [my mother]'s."

Could you share this recipe?

 

[BigBoy99]

Last week made a large pot of ham and bean soup - My Favorite. Wife will eat a small bowl, I think out of politeness. I've packaged it up and have about 4-5 containers in the freezer. If fact, I think one container is coming out for today's lunch!

Here is my recipe:

Bean Soup

1 lb. Navy or Great Northern Beans
1 ham bone or ham hock
7 cups water
1 Large Onion, diced
3 Ribs of celery, chopped fine
1 Large potato, peeled and finely diced
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1½ teaspoons of salt
½ teaspoons of black pepper
2 Tablespoons of chopped Parsley

Soak the beans overnight. Drain and place in pot with ham (bone of hock) and water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender. Remove ham (bone of hock), discard bone, skin, and dice meat. Return meat to pot and continue simmering and add onion, celery, potato salt and pepper. Simmer until potato pieces are soft (30-45 minutes). Remove pot from heat and mash with a potato masher until soup is a bit creamy. Garnish with parsley.

 

[VaTom]

As far back as I have been been cooking pinto beans I have experimented with different meats, seasonings, spices, and veggies. Every version I ever came up with was good. But if we're talking about DRIED pinto beans there was always, ALWAYS, one constant...you must soak them in water overnight or they will never tender up. the two times I didn't bother to do that I reminded myself why.

This was one of my mother's quotes: "You can cook a pinto bean till the cows come but if you don't soak it first it will never get tender.

BUT...

You can file this under the heading of live and learn. My BIL and SIL returned from a trip to Colorado and brought me a 5 lb bag of dried pinto beans from a company called:

HEIL BEAN, INC.
110 North Main
Rocky Ford, CO
81067

I was reluctant to believe it but they told me that THESE BEANS NEED NO SOAKING. But they spoke the truth. I didn't time it but it was about an hour and half or so and they were perfect...No soaking, no fooling.
If it's possible they are even better tasting.

Good advice. If you have one of those new "Insta-Pot" pressure cookers you don't have to soak dried beans. About 45 minutes-an hour in the insta pot and they are done. I use chicken broth as the liquid plus add onions, celery and country ham or fat back for the seasoning. Corn bread cooked in a cast iron skillet in the oven and you have a meal.

 

[zeke]

Link please? ✌

just google instant pot. It's a brand name for multi cooker that can pressure cook. Am mainly using it for beans and hard boiled eggs.

14 minutes for hard dried pinto beans, after it warms up. 4 minutes of pressure cooking, 10 keep warm setting.

turning them into refried is another 10 minutes pressure cooking, 10 minutes slow pressure release.

 

[coltle6920]

Definition of "instant"

"Subject to interpretation but can be up to 14 minutes."

 

[Chubbo]

Soaking beans

I hate to dispute the common bean soaking fallacy, but I will; Mom's opinion on the matter was; The only thing that's accomplished, by bean soaking is, that a lot of valuable vitamins, and nutrients are lost when the broth of a bean soak is discarded. The consistency of the beans is changed only in the bean soakers imagination. Before a nasty controversy issues, this theory is easily tested, and proved.

I've never soaked, and discarded the broth of beans, or ever will.

Chubbo

 

[Krogen]

Senate Bean Soup: U.S. Senate: About Traditions & Symbols | Senate Bean Soup

Two versions, w/ and w/o mashed potatoes. Looks rather "official."

 

[walkin jack]

As stated above I been soakin' 'em for decades...but I NEVER discarded the bean soak.

I have an instapot but haven't used it for a few years. When I have used up all the HEIL beans I will be pressing that back into service. That is an idea whose time has come!

 

[John_M52]

As my dad used to say "Beans, beans the musical fruit...."

 

[Rustyt1953]

As stated above I been soakin' 'em for decades...but I NEVER discarded the bean soak.

I just talked to mum about this. She puts pintos in water with a tbs of baking soda for 20 minutes. She will then swish them around and pour them into a colander and rinse them. Back they go into the pot to soak covered overnight.

The next day she will add ham hocks to the existing water and slow cook.

The first time she hit these shores dad told her that a biscuit ain't a cookie and cornbread ain't cake.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Senate Bean Soup: U.S. Senate: About Traditions & Symbols | Senate Bean Soup

Two versions, w/ and w/o mashed potatoes. Looks rather "official."

"Clean the beans, then cook them dry."
What the hell does THAT mean?????

 

[OLDSTER]

Love my "nasty" beans.

 

[OLDSTER]

Love my "nasty" beans.