Charro Beans

 

So everyone today I decided to make my favorite beans. Now, I use to HATE charro beans when I ordered it from restraunts and one day I decided to make my own and I did not regret it! Let me say, once you have had REAL Mexican food Tex Mex just makes you want to gag. I'm glad I have my mother in law to learn from or I would still walk into Tex Mex joints eating their gross food. My Hispanic side of the family doesn't cook unfortunately so I don't have them to look up to (sigh)... Anyways so here is MY Version of charro beans I hope others can enjoy it as much as my family an I do. 

Charro beans 

 

What you need:

1/2 a pound of one of dry pinto beans (I get Kroger brand) 

Crockpot

Canned pickled jalapeños w/juice

2 jalapeños fresh (I love spicy)

1 whole tomato 

1/4 of a large white onion

A bunch of cilantro (put as much as you prefer)

1/2 a cube of Chicken bouillon/tomato bouillon -which ever you have on hand

5 slices of turkey bacon (or regular) chopped

Water - fill crockpot half way at least or a little more if you want more broth

Small tsp of:

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Ground cumin 

Salt&pepper to taste I'm generous with mine. 

Splash of canola oil or any oil you have on hand.

Okayyyyyyy so now were ready to throw everything in the pot!

*It takes a good 5 hours on high for my crockpot but not everyone has the same one so you will just have to check and stir every hour or if your know your crockpot then you don't but mine is older and was a hand me down from my mom. 

Chop up all your veggies

I don't chop the cilantro I usually just pick off the leaves I find when you chop it you loose flavor to the chopping board! 

I spread the dry beans on the counter and make sure there's no "ugly" ones lol. Next I rinse them off then put them in the crockpot. 

I add in all the seasonings and veggies plus the bacon and splash of oil.

Now open that can of pickled jalapeños! I love the juice and I personally add a half cup BUT I would start off with 1/4 of a cup or less and you can always add more at the end as well as cilantro which I usually do and shoot sometimes if I feel cheesy I grate some Monterey Jack in it. 

Like I said this is my version I know a lot of people do canned tomatoes and that's their preference but it just tastes so much better with fresh tomato!! Oh and beer is a no i do not like the flavor in my beans!