Lazy Day & Pinto Beans

I've been moving really slow when it comes to getting things done again. I waited until right before the cafeteria was completely shut down to drop off my food handler's permit :D Nice one, right?

Anyway, I mostly just thought I'd post up some recipes and my changes/notes about them since today was fairly slow. I think I'll even post up one of my images that I take sometime at the Vascular lab... I just have to remember... "remember Brittany, remember.."

BBQ Cowboy Pinto Beans

This recipe I pulled from "The Best Slow Cooker Cook Book Ever" by Natalie Haughton. Since I suffer from that "poor-college-student syndrome" I try to look for recipes with very few ingredients most of the time. This one required very little and most I already had on hand.

Original:
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
1 (16 ounce) package dried pinto beans, rinsed.
4 cups hot water
2 medium onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
3/4 cup hickory flavored bbq sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 and 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
dash of tabasco sauce

My Version:
Makes 3-4 servings.
1/2 (8 ounces) package dried pinto beans
3-5 cups of water
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1/4-2/3 hickory flavored bbq sauce
1/4-2/3 cup ketchup
1/2-1 tablespoon yellow mustard

Directions: In a 3 and 1/2 quart slow cooker, mix beans water onions, and chili powder. Cook and cover on low heat about 7 hours or until beans are tender. Drain liquid. Stir in bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, and tabasco sauce. Cook uncovered 10 to 15 minutes longer until heated through.

Did I even attempt the original? Nope. I was testing it on Jared and I, so that meant I had to cut out almost all things spicy (Jared's not a fan of spicy food). Also, about 4 hours into cooking the beans started to look dry. I originally started with about 2 cups of water because I was halving the recipe, but I ended up adding enough water to make it between 3-4 (maybe even 5) cups of water.

Do I like the recipe? Yes. It was simple, easy, and cheap. A nice side dish, or even a meal if you add in some hot dog bits. Yum. Plus, I can start it before I go to work or classes, check it once sometime in the middle of cooking, and then eat up when I get back. I like the long recipes that mean I can leave food alone for long enough to do other things.