Flavored Black Beans

By Becca

The flavors in these beans work beautifully in the black bean and corn quesadilla recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. bag dried black beans
• 1 small to medium onion, skinned
• 1-2 pieces bacon
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Rinse and sort black beans. Remove any pebbles or bad beans.
   
2. Add beans to a large sauce pan or dutch oven. Cover beans with several inches of water.
   
3. Add onion (whole--cutting onion will cause it to dissolve into a gooey film around beans during cooking), bacon, garlic, and salt & pepper.
4. Simmer covered for about 2 1/2 hours or until beans are tender (over cooking will cause beans to dissolve and you'll be left with just the skins--yuck). Check often, stirring and adding water as necessary so that beans don't burn on the bottom of the pan.
   
5. Drain. Remove and discard onion and bacon. Rinse beans and allow to cool.
6. Store in an airtight container in fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month.