Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Homemade Refried Beans taste so much better than the kind you buy in the grocery store. They are super easy to make and fairly inexpensive. Once you try this recipe, you'll never eat canned refried beans again.   J

Ingredients-

1 small bag dried pinto beans
1 medium/large yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic (I really like to use the jar of minced garlic from Costco.)
2 1/2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
32 oz carton chicken broth, or enough to completely cover ingredients in slow cooker

Directions-

Prepare beans by placing them in a large bowl, covering with water and letting them soak overnight. 

In the morning, transfer beans to a large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil on stove. Let boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover with a lid. Let the beans soak in the hot water for 1 hour.

Drain beans and add to slow cooker that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the chopped onion and spices. 

Pour chicken broth over all. Add water if broth does not completely cover ingredients.

Cook on high for 6-8 hours, or until beans are really tender. Ladle beans into food processor and mash/puree until beans are the consistency that you like (we like ours more smooth than chunky), adding broth from slow cooker if needed. 

At this point, you can serve the refried beans as a side dish, topped with shredded cheese, OR you can freeze the beans for later use. They are perfect on tostadas and nachos, alongside chili rellenos (click here for a Pinterest favorite recipe) or wrapped in enchiladas and burritos.

Creamy Refried Beans

Recipe adapted from  Money Saving Mom

Welcome Spring!

Here are a few works of art for you to enjoy, created ever so cheerfully by  Mrs. B.'s Kindergarten students...

~Watercolor Tulips~

There is always, always, always at least one child who does not follow directions. The picture below is adorable, but the directions were to orient the paper to landscape rather than portrait. :)

~Wall Flowers~

We measured each flower to be the same height as its creator.

Each student received 2 leaves to place anywhere on the stem that they desired. The leaves on the far right are my favorite. :)

Check out the look that the orange flower in the middle is giving the pink flower. Hahaha.

Asperger's and Fries

While watching TV as a family one evening, Jim Parsons, the actor who plays Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, came on the screen. One thing lead to another and our conversation turned to Asperger's. Cody, our son who is autistic and always trying to involve himself in conversations, threw out the question, “Asperger’s and fries?”

It only took us a few seconds to realize that Cody thought we were talking about some kind of hamburger. Cody was food pairing and like peanut butter goes with jelly and macaroni goes with cheese, burgers and fries are meant to be together. After a good chuckle, we explained to Cody, “It’s Asperger’s, not Asburger’s” and clarified the difference in spelling.

Then it dawned on me. Asperger’s and Fries would be a brilliant name for my blog, considering I post mostly about autism and food. But I’m not going to change my blog’s name. I have far too many things linked to Snippets ‘N Stuff.

Cody’s “Asperger’s and Fries” would also be a splendid name for a restaurant, if I were going to open one, which I’m not…unless somebody out there wants to help out by investing money, then I’m all ears.  J