#3341 - Cowboy Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups raw (dry) red kidney beans
1 quart cold water
1 cup diced onions
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/3 cup minced green bell peppers
1 - 8oz. can Hunt's tomato sauce
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 1/4 tsp. salt
2 TBSP chili powder

Wash the dry red kidney beans, then drain them and place them in a large bowl. Pour 1 quart cold water over the beans and let them soak overnight. The next day drain the beans but reserve 5 cups of the bean water (if you don't have quite 5 cups, add more water to make 5 cups). In a Dutch oven add the drained beans, 5 cups of the bean water, diced onions, minced garlic, tomato sauce, minced green bell peppers and black pepper--stir to mix. Cover the Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until boiling, then turn heat back to low and cook until beans are tender (2 to 2 1/2 hours). If beans get too dry add a little boiling water and stir again. When beans are tender, add the salt and chili powder--stir well. Taste--add more salt/pepper/chili powder to your taste. Optional: if you like sour beans, add apple cider vinegar to your taste and stir again.