pintos and paint

1. the paint

I'm really hoping that link works because it's to all the "Habitat for Humanity" project I'm posting updates about at my creative tinkering joint at lj -not to be confused with a separate project of creativity that's only iPhone photography

2.  cooking beans

Take dried beans (or peas, home-dried or store-bought) and put them on the counter to pick through. You'll find bits of broken beans, dried up seed pods and even stones. Remove them or anything that isn't somewhat consistent with the majority of your beans to the side.

Cover with cold water and bring to a quick boil for 5-10 minutes. You want to soften the outside of the beans but not split them. -ahem, like I did because I was doing other things instead of minding them

Drain and cover with fresh hot water and place back on your stove-top.

 

Add salt to your taste and seasoning. I like to put in 1/2 strip of bacon but since beggars can't be choosers, I was gifted this big-arsed hunk of smoked ham. I gladly received it and dunked it in the batch.

Cover, bring to boil and back off the heat -- cook covered for an hour or so and then take off the top to let the water reduce. Cook for about another 30 minutes or hour -- you can take out a bean or two and taste. If they're al dente, that's bad. Cook longer. You're not going for mushy, either. It's a hit and miss. Some days take longer than others. It's not you, it's the beans you started with. By the way, this is about pinto beans and certain other types take longer or shorter.

Butter beans, for example, take shorter and will cook up into porridge, if you're not careful! The finished product was very steamy! Serve as desired and remember to let cool before putting in the fridge.