Bean Recipe Refinement

I cooked this recipe again today with a few adjustments.  We had a ham bone leftover from the holidays and after trimming the country ham we ate for Thanksgiving, I set it aside the fridge to use with some beans later one. Well, today was the day.

Bean Recipe

• 1 cup great northern beans
• 1 cup garbonzo beans
• 1 cup pinto beans
• 1 cup white beans
• 1/2 cup chick peas
• 1/2 cup black-eyed peas
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup George Dickel No. 12 whiskey

Directions: Soak dry beans for 4 hours. Drain beans. Add bean mix, ham bone, 2 quarts of water to a medium sized dutch oven (or crock pot). Cook for 4 hours on low heat or until beans are tender (use bottom heat only if using a dutch oven).

I always pre-mix spices when I cook and last night I mistakenly doubled the black pepper in the mix. Instead of 1 tbsp I mistakenly added 1 tbsp. Rather than scrapping it all and starting over, I "went with it".

After sampling the beans after 3 hours of cooking, the pepper was a little strong (o.k. very strong). A few Google searches later, it occurred that I happened to have a solution - a half empty bottle of George Dickel. The alcohol is known to help take the edge off excessive heat from too much pepper in a recipe. It actually worked pretty well. And in case you're wondering...the beans had only a hint of the whiskey flavor when I served them two hours later.

Here's a little more information about George Dickel No. 12 if you're interested:

There are many fine Tennessee whiskies. Then there is George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee Whisky. Displaying enormous depth, range and personality, it is considered by many to be the gold standard of Tennessee whisky. 

Back to my original recipe change, before the whiskey....

I doubled the amout of cumin in my bean recipe from 1 1/2 tsp to 1 tbsp. I think beans benefit from a stronger cumin flavor. For those who might be reading this who have ever tasted a bowl of competition quality chili, you know what I mean.

And one last tip about cumin....

Adding the cumin toward the half-way point of cooking will help reduce the chance of your pot of beans turning bitter. For some reason, simmering cumin for several hours sometimes produces a bitterness.

Bean Recipe

Today I brought on the dutch oven and made a 6 bean soup that turned out well. Well actually it was 4 beans and 2 peas, but legumes nonetheless.

6 Bean Soup Recipe

• 1 cup great northern beans
• 1 cup garbonzo beans
• 1 cup pinto beans
• 1 cup white beans
• 1/2 cup chick peas
• 1/2 cup black-eyed peas 
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp Kosher salt

Directions:  Soak dry beans for 4 hours. Drain beans. Add bean mix, ham hock, 2 quarts of water to a medium sized dutch oven. Cook for 4 hours in the dutch oven on medium low heat or until beans are tender (use bottom heat only).

Dutch oven table, ash bucket, and bag of charcoal briquettes

I started with 9 briquettes and added 6 - 7 hourly

Ham hock

Legumes ready for cooking

Adding the beans to the dutch oven pot

I used a single slice of ham hock

Adding the spice mixture

Half way there

Bowl of beans topped with some home grown pepper relish

The beans turned out very well. The relish adds just the right amount of additional heat. If I make this recipe again without the relish  I'll add 2 tbsp of vinegar instead.

Spice Up Your Food

If your are familar with the history of chili cooking in Texas you may already know this already, but if you don't you need to learn more about it. In a primitive food preparation scenario whether using a bbq grill or cooking directly over a camp fire, it's vitally important to season it with spices so that it tastes better. How difficult would it be to eat unseasoned, bland, tasteless food for several days, weeks, or months?

I always keep plenty of garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, oregano, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, salt, sugar, and cumin powder in my pantry. Beef bouillon and chicken bouillon cubes are also key to making plain foods like beans and beef a little more enjoyable.

Sam's Club, Costco, BJ's and Gordon Food Service (GFS) are sources for bulk spices where I live, but if you don't have access to those retailers in your town you can order them online at reasonable prices.

If you're looking for a source of various types of chili powders, look no further than Mild Bill's. I have personally ordered from their online store and received my order for California, New Mexico, Santa Cruz chili powders within 7 days. The powders are packaged in reseable plastic bags.

If you would prefer to buy a ready-made spice rub there are hundreds of available. The Kansas City Style BBQ Rub Seasoning above if a nice pork rub for making baby back ribs or bbq pulled pork. Cabela's is another nice source for outdoor cooking seasonings. They have plenty available at their retail stores, or you can order from them online as well.