Pinto Beans

What makes these beans so good??? A little bacon!!! Meat is my least favorite of the food groups and isn't a staple in my cooking...with the exception of bacon! I LOVE bacon and a little bit goes a long way for flavor. I usually buy Applegate Sunday bacon which is my favorite of the organic, nitrate free bacons on the market. Of course you can skip the bacon in this recipe and still end up with some good beans, but the bacon really does give these beans that little extra.

Pinto Beans 

serves 4

Ingredients:

1 can pinto beans undrained

1/2 onion minced

2-4 large garlic cloves minced

3 slices bacon (preferably organic and nitrate free)

1 t cumin

1 T oregano

sprinkle of shredded cheddar or jack cheese

sprinkle of cotija cheese

Directions:

Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat then chop and set aside. Save 1-2 T bacon fat and add onions. Saute for about 5 minutes or until golden. Add in the garlic and saute another 30 seconds or so. Add the can of undrained beans or you can rinse them and just add a 1/2 cup of water or so. Add the cumin and oregano and a little salt. Cook on medium low for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Preheat the Broiler. Partially mash the beans with a potato masher. You may need to add a little more water to get a creamy consistency.  Add in the chopped bacon, put in an oven safe dish, sprinkle with cheeses and throw under the broiler until cheese is golden and bubbly.