Cooking dried beans is an easy way to save money. All it takes is a little prep time and a day of crock pot cooking.

Supplies:

• 16 oz dried beans
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Pepper, cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes. Whatever spices you like. Use a teaspoon or 1/2 teaspoon of each of your favorites.
• Crock pot

Method:

1. Rinse and soak dried beans in a large pot over night.
   
2. Dump water and rinse beans.
3. Place beans in a crock pot with enough water to cover an inch or two above beans.
   
4. Add onion, garlic, and spices. Don’t add salt yet, save it for the end.
   
5. Cook on low for 10 – 12 hours or cook on high for 6 to 8 hours.
6. Periodically check for liquid levels adding more if needed.
7. When approaching the end of the cooking time, check the beans. Check 4 beans each time from different areas in the pot, some beans maybe done while others are not.
8. If needed, add more time. Look for beans that begin to break open. This is a good indicator that they are done but you don’t want to have too many.
9. Add more spices and salt, if desired.
10. Use beans as you normally would.  Portion beans out for recipes and freeze whatever you do not use for the future.