Fail-proof Pinto Beans

Ok, y'all, I'm from Texas, so you can trust me.

FAIL-PROOF PINTOS (aka, authentic Mexican beans)

Dump a large bag of beans onto the countertop, a little at a time, and remove any rocks and debris. I always buy Casserole brand, and they have few rocks, but some brands have many.

Put the sorted beans in a collander and rinse well to remove any remaining grit. Place the beans in a stock pot or large dutch oven and cover with plenty water--enough to allow for swelling and still be soupy.

About water: Unless you have very soft, excellent tasting well or tap water, use BOTTLED WATER. Our city water here is very hard--wouldn't dream of cooking beans (or anything else) in it. We have an R/O system, but use bottled water if your available water is even slightly hard.

Now put an entire garlic head (head, not clove) into the pot. Remove any loose paper, but you don't need to remove all of it. You could be neat and wrap it in cheesecloth, but I just dump the whole head in without further ado. Bring the pot to a good rolling boil. Notice I haven't said anything about presoaking the beans. Isn't necessary if you follow this recipe.

When the beans have begun to boil, cover the pot and put it into a preheated 325-degree oven. Start checking for doneness and water level after an hour or so. Add water as needed if the beans are soaking up too much liquid. (Zap any additional water in the microwave so you're adding hot water.) Lower the temp if your brew is roiling. You want a slow, steady simmer for this method.

When beans have reached desired tenderness, remove from oven, remove garlic head, and add freshly ground salt and pepper to taste. You can add other seasonings if you must, but try this before you add anything. The slowly cooked garlic infuses the beans with a wonderful savory taste, and I think the FRESHLY GROUND salt and pepper are key, also.

Over the next couple days you can make wonderful refried beans with the leftovers by heating lard (not shortening) in a skillet and adding the beans. Just mash and stir till heated through and use as a side dish or pile some on a fresh flour tortilla with some Monterrey cheese, zap it a little, and you have a great burrito. Bell pepper or jalapeno is a great addition for the burrito.

This is a great way to prepare beans for a heart-healthy diet, because there is no fatty meat added (such as salt pork). Although beans are high in carbs, they are a complex carbohydrate and a great addition to a meatless diet. Serve pinto beans with rice, and they are a complete protein.
-Pen