Cowboy Beans

We love pinto beans around here but sometimes get tired of just the average crock pot filled with fat back and topped with chopped onions.

 

 So recently while watching an episode of The Pioneer Women on Food Network, I decided to make some beans I seen Ree make. After looking up her recipe, which can be found HERE, I knew right off the bat I would have to adapt it a bit for me.

Her recipe sounded fabulous but I didn't have the bacon her recipe called for. I also didn't need to make as much so I knew cutting it in half would be simple.

 

I decided to use bacon grease to flavor the beans,since I knew leaving out bacon entirely might really not be so good. I also knew I wanted to have meat so I went with what I had on hand, and had used in similar dishes before.

 

Smoked Sausage

 

The meat is optional and the beans are hardy on  their own, but I liked the addition and it felt like a complete one pot meal.

 

I thought about having to watch a pot of beans for several hours as well and thought the crock pot sounded more up to my liking on this particular busy day.

 

 

 

Jodies Kitchen Cowboy Beans

 

2 cups dried pinto beans cleaned

1 pound smoked sausage in casing chopped

1 tablespoons bacon grease

1 bell pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 jalapeno diced...optional

2 + teaspoons salt

 

In a large crockpot add all ingredients except sausage,mix well.Cover with water leaving about 2 inches of water over beans. Cook on high until beans are almost done and liquid is thick. Add in sausage and continue cooking.

Note: you may need to add more water during the cooking process.