Squiddy's Kitchen Creations: FIESTA!!! part 2

so tonight i am making the delicious beans and rice to go with my fiesta meal! (chicken quesadillas, squiddy's special salsa, queso, guacamole and chips)

the beans
day 1
this beans recipe is just sort of a wing-it type deal. take a pot o beans (maybe 3 or 4 cups, dry)
if they are fresh, proceed with the day 2 cooking and whatnot part.

if dried, take the beans and put them in a large container, preferably one with a lid. make sure they only fill the container less than halfway, i like to use a very large jar or a pitcher for this. then add water. you need to double the volume with liquid, and then some. (i like a 1:3 ratio) the beans will soak up all the water overnight and double of triple in size. you want there to still be water on top after they expand. add more after a few hours if you like.
give the rice a similar treatment, but add a bit of salt, (bacon salt!), garlic, rosemary, and ginger and stir it up well so the rice is coated under the water.


day 2: cooking and whatnot

look at the beans! they are so big and plump now! give them a good rinse or two, then plop them into a big pot with a tablespoon or two of bacon grease and/or butter and a good clump of minced garlic. add a bit of salt (bacon salt!) and pepper, and whatever spices you want to use, and pour in enough water to cover with about an inch or two extra. *use chicken stock here for extra yummyness, but watch the salt.

simmer for an hour or two or three, stirring every 15-20 minutes. you want a nice chunky, creamyish consistency. add peppers, onions, meat or whatever during this period. (im not really a sausage person, but i imagine it might be ok with this recipe. if you want to go the chili route, add sausage and more tomatoes or whatever. bleh. sometimes i throw in some roasted chicken). i like to add some stewed tomatoes, a jalapeno, a habenero, a bell pepper, and half an onion, plus some basil, rosemary, and cilantro. (cubed, of course.)

cook the rice while this is going, you don't really need to rinse it, just drain well before putting into a (separate) pot. add some butter and water to cover, stir well, cover and simmer till done.

eat beans and rice topped with shredded cheese together with some quesadillas, guacamole, salsa, queso and chips!
its delicious!