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What is it with my love affair with beans? Do I dig deep into my Mexican genetic pool, to explain why a savory pot of beans makes my world go round? One of my favorite comfort meals would be narrowed down to either Red Beans & Brown Rice, or Chili Con Carne with flour tortillas.
When it comes to grilling season, I'm always game to try a new bean recipes-- to set along side grilled meats. My guests appreciate them, too, and this recipe is no exception. I've always wanted to see if I could make my own Texas Ranch Style Beans.
The first place I searched was one of my favorite cookbooks, "The Homesick Texan" (author/blogger: Lisa Fain). I came up with nothing-- until I searched her blog . Lo and behold, she had created her…
View Full Recipe at A Feast for the Eyes Food…
.%20%20I%20came%20up%20with%20nothing--%20until%20I%20searched%20her%20blog%20.%20%20Lo%20and%20behold,%20she%20had%20created%20her%20own%20version%20and%20I%20decided%20to%20try%20her%20recipe.%20%20%20I've%20made%20a%20few%20of%20her%20recipes%20with%20success%20(like%20her%20Breakfast%20Migas--yum).%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20have%20nothing%20against%20canned%20beans.%20But,%20dried%20beans%20are%20inexpensive%20and%20I%20don't%20mind%20giving%20them%20an%20overnight%20soaking.%20I%20do%20add%20baking%20soda,%20myself,%20during%20the%20soaking%20process%20to%20help--%20ahem--%20with%20the%20after-effects%20of%20eating%20fiber%20laden%20beans.%20%20(There's%20a%20quick%20soak%20method,%20too.)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAncho%20chilis%20are%20inexpensive%20and%20I%20try%20to%20keep%20a%20few%20on%20hand,%20in%20my%20pantry.%20%20In%20a%20pre-heated,%20hot%20skillet%20(I%20prefer%20cast%20iron)%20you%20want%20to%20cook%20them%20for%20a%20minutes--%20kind%20of%20a%20snap,%20crackle%20and%20pop%20effect.%20Then,%20you%20add%20water%20allow%20them%20to%20rehydrate%20for%20a%20bit...%20oh,%20an%20hour%20should%20do%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFor%20spices/aromatics,%20we'll%20need%20brown%20sugar,%20paprika,%20cumin%20and%20dried%20oregano%20and%2015%20ounces%20of%20tomatoes.%20%20We'll%20need%20some%20apple%20cider%20vinegar.%20%20Plenty%20of%20garlic%20and%20onion%20is%20needed,%20too--%20like%20one%20big%20onion%20and%20six%20cloves%20of%20fresh%20garlic.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20a%20skillet,%20with%20a%20bit%20of%20canola%20oil,%20the%20onions%20are%20cooked%20until%20soft,%20and%20then%20the%20garlic%20is%20added%20for%20about%20a%20minute.%20%20Now,%20we%20add%20this%20to%20a%20food%20processor%20(or%20you%20can%20use%20an%20immersion%20blender)%20and%20we%20add%20the%20rehydrated%20Ancho%20chiles,%20spices,%20water%20and%20vinegar.%20%20Puree%20until%20smooth.%20%20I%20can%20assure%20you%20that%20this%20puree%20is%20not%20fire-breathing%20hot,%20but%20it's%20plenty%20flavorful.%20NOTE:%20I%20bumped%20up%20the%20cumin%20a%20bit%20more,%20because%20I%20love%20it.%20Adjust%20the%20seasonings%20to%20your%20own%20preference.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ETo%20the%20soaked%20beans,%20six%20cups%20of%20beef%20broth%20is%20added...%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E...and%20the%20puree%20is%20added.%20%20Bring%20the%20beans%20to%20a%20boil%20on%20high,%20and%20then%20cover%20and%20simmer%20for%20about%202-1/2%20hours.%20Stir%20occasionally,%20and%20check%20that%20they%20beans%20don't%20overcook%20to%20the%20point%20that%20they%20become%20mush.%20No%20Bueno.%20Season%20with%20salt%20&%20pepper,%20to%20your%20liking.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENOTE:%20Before%20you%20ask%20if%20you%20can%20cook%20these%20in%20a%20slow%20cooker,%20I%20would%20say%20%22no%22.%20%20I%20believe%20that%20dried%20beans%20need%20to%20be%20slow%20simmered,%20on%20the%20stove.%20Otherwise,%20you%20risk%20them%20being%20undercooked--%20which%20isn't%20a%20pleasant%20texture.%20%20At%20some%20point,%20I'll%20try%20to%20adapt%20these%20using%20my%20digital%20pressure%20cooker.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EJust%20as%20Bush's%20Baked%20Beans%20claims%20their%20recipe%20is%20%22top%20secret%22,%20so%20goes%20the%20claim%20for%20canned%20Ranch%20Style%20Beans.%20I%20give%20several%20high-fives%20to%20Lisa%20Fain's%20version%20of%20these%20beans.%20The%20ancho%20chilis%20give%20a%20rich%20and%20smoky%20flavor%20to%20the%20beans,%20and%20I%20cooked%20mine%20to%20be%20on%20the%20thicker%20side.%20%20For%20those%20of%20you%20who%20can't%20handle%20really%20spicy/hot%20food,%20these%20beans%20will%20not%20disappoint.%20%20There%20were%20no%20leftovers,%20or%20I'd%20have%20eaten%20them%20the%20following%20day.%20Sigh.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDear%20Readers/Fellow%20Bloggers%20&%20Friends--%20I%20am%20digging%20deep%20into%20my%20archives%20of%20unpublished%20recipes.%20As%20of%20today,%20I'm%20still%20not%20able%20to%20cook%20or%20bake.%20%20From%20the%20depths%20of%20my%20heart%20and%20soul,%20I%20thank%20all%20of%20you%20who%20left%20comments%20about%20my%20recent%20knee%20surgery.%20Many%20of%20you%20were%20very%20new%20to%20me,%20and%20I'm%20so%20pleased%20to%20meet%20you!%20%20You%20encouragement%20lifted%20my%20spirits,%20immensely.%20%20I'm%20at%20%22T%22%20minus%2014%20days%20until%20I%20must%20return%20to%20my%20job.%20It's%20going%20to%20be%20a%20long%20road,%20ahead,%20for%20me%20to%20be%20able%20to%20stand%20for%20lengths%20at%20a%20time.%20I'm%20becoming%20more%20confident%20in%20getting%20around,%20but%20my%20walker%20or%20cane%20is%20close%20at%20hand.%20I'm%20still%20unable%20to%20walk%20without%20any%20kind%20of%20assistance.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20weighed%20myself,%20yesterday,%20and%20I've%20lost%20nine%20pounds!%20%20%20My%20appetite%20is%20much%20smaller%20than%20usual,%20and%20I'm%20pretty%20much%20at%20the%20mercy%20of%20my%20husband...%20who%20still%20hates%20to%20cook,%20but%20does%20the%20best%20he%20can%20for%20me.%20%20I'm%20going%20to%20try%20and%20get%20back%20into%20the%20kitchen,%20but%20I'm%20not%20sure%20I%20can%20balance%20my%20walker/cane%20and%20camera.%20I'll%20give%20it%20a%20good%20try!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI'm%20in%20much%20better%20spirits,%20gaining%20strength%20every%20day%20and%20have%20a%20love/hate%20relationship%20with%20my%20physical%20therapy%20sessions%20(in%20my%20home).%20%20I%20can%20hardly%20wait%20to%20get%20the%20green%20light%20from%20my%20orthopedic%20surgeon%20to%20get%20into%20some%20water%20therapy.%20This%20is%20where%20I%20feel%20most%20confident.%20Soon!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20love%20the%20Food%20Blogger%20Community--%20you%20are%20such%20loving%20and%20supportive%20folks.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThank%20you!%3C/p%3E){kind=link}