Sunday, October 9, 2011

Old Fashioned Trail Beans Anyone???


As temperatures drop I think about ways to keep warm.  That means more baking and cooking.  I grew up with a Grandma that could make anything taste great.  She was a real magician in the kitchen.  We lived modestly, but always had full tummies with good ol' recipes like this one...


Grandma's Trail Beans

First, pour a bunch of dried pinto beans into a big stew pot.  (I use 2 cups of pintos today.)

Wash and drain the beans, making sure they're clean and then pour enough warm water over them to cover.

Put the pot back on the stove with the lid on for the night and forget about it til morning.

Come morning, they'll have almost doubled in size and soaked up most of the water so drain them and pour fresh water over them to cover.

Add a pinch of baking soda, a cut up onion, some salt pork or bacon, and stir.

Bring them to a boil on the stove, stirring regularly.

Once they've boiled for few minutes, bring the temperature down to a simmer and cook them for about two hours or until the beans split when pressed with a spoon. They're done at this point...

You can add seasonings you enjoy.  We usually just go with a bit more cut up cooked bacon and salt and pepper, but Grandma used to add a few teaspoons of tomato catsup, a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, a dash of red pepper, a few drops of vinegar, and a pinch or two of brown sugar.

These beans are best when served with a warm piece of corn bread. (That's just my opinion.) Enjoy! 

I love and miss you Grams!


I linked this post to the Barn Hop!

9 comments:

  1. Yum, these sound great! I love a nice pot of beans on a cold day with cornbread! My grandma is the same way- what a wonderful generation of cooks! Visiting from the Barn Hop ~April

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  2. I love beans. You make it sound so easy. I've started using my pressure canner because I never can seem to get them done. I'm here from the Barn Hop.

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  3. Beans and cornbread, yum, yum, yum!!

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  4. April,
    Welcome to my simple country living! Thanks for visiting. Depression era cooks were the best, I agree. They had to make due with very little and they could improvise with the best. You gotta love the Barn Hop.

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  5. Carol,
    I love beans too.I'll have to learn how to use my pressure cooker for beans, never thought about it. I bet it's alot faster. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Candy,
    I hope you are having a great week. I love my beans and cornbread, just like the old song...

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  7. That sounds so simple and yummy!

    kateri @ http://dandelionhaven.blogspot.com/

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  8. Thanks Kateri!
    It is simple and so good.

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  9. Hello Heidi. I wanted to ask you about the baking soda- What's the reason for adding it?

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