dry beans recipes?

[EarthRootsStarSoul]

For mostly financial reasons, I'd like to cook more meals based on dry beans.  Do you have any delicious (and EASY) recipes to share? 

One thing I did recently was cook some black beans in a crock pot, drain the water, mash them with a potato masher and mix in a jar of salsa.  It was a great dip for tortilla chips that even the kids loved! 

[newmamalizzy]

I use a bean "method" that I then adapt for different situations.  I cook 1 pound of beans (usually black or pinto) in the pressure cooker ( takes about 10 minutes).  While the beans are cooking, I do a low, slow saute of lots of onions and garlic.  When the beans are done, I remove the cover and bring them back to a simmer.  I pull out several cups of the beans and mash them up with the onions in the garlic, then put that whole mess back in the bean pot and simmer the whole thing with a bay leaf for about 30 minutes.  It makes a great black bean soup, it's great for beans and rice, and I also use it as a basis for pasta e fagioli.  I highly recommend the pressure cooker for beans.

[homemademom]

I love my pressure cooker for beans, but the crockpot will do, too.  I store cooked, but unseasoned beans in the fridge or freezer. I do what the others said, saute up whatever you like as far as veggies or meat (a little bacon goes a long way) and then, mix in the beans. You can make chili this way (adding the usual chili spices, peppers, onions, ground beef, tomatoes/tomato paste, etc.), soups (white beans with ham is good), beans to pair with rice or qunioa, to scoop with bread or dip with chips.  Beans are also a good way to try out different spice combos. We eat a lot of Indian style lentils and chickpeas, and Mexican style beans. We love hummus, too.

www.allrecipes.com is my go-to when I'm looking for a recipe with particular ingredients.  

[kitchensqueen]

15 Bean Soup is one I love. You can buy the dry bean mixes in the store (they're just about as cheap as single-variety beans, and come with a soup flavor packet) or you can mix together as many different types of dry beans and lentils as you like. I flavor mine with bacon rind (I freeze the skin that I cut off a cured pork belly when I make my own home made bacon) or a ham hock. Or you can put in a little ham if you have it on hand and want a little meat in it. For seasonings, I use a tablespoon or so of dry mustard, one diced onion, a couple of cloves of diced garlic and some generous splashes of red wine vinegar near the end of cooking, with salt and pepper to taste. I love to serve it with toasted sourdough or rye bread. It's a super cheap, filling fall meal that really stretches far. 

[EarthRootsStarSoul]

Thanks for the ideas.  I'll try out some and check out allrecipes.com.