Mexican Flavor Beans

A simple and flavorful way to cook dry pinto beans. Tastes similar to refried beans with salsa? I am constantly trying to find something to make with dry beans that I like, since my husband loves them, and I don't. This turned out good, so I'm posting it before I forget what I did :-) I think it serves 6 people as a one dish meal, and maybe 12 people as a side? My family of three gets 2 meals out of it.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Yields: 1 pot

Ingredients

• 1  lb dry pinto beans
• 1⁄2 cup margarine
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons  minced garlic
• 1  onion
• 3⁄4 cup  diced bell pepper
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

Directions

1. Place beans in large pot, cover with 3 inches of water. Add butter, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and keep at a hard boil for an hour and a half, checking occasionally to add water if necessary.
2. Remove the lid, and continue to cook for an additional 1/2 hour. You want creamy beans, but not an abundance of liquid.
3. Meanwhile, run the onion and bell pepper through a food processor so that they are minced small enough that you won't mind eating them raw. (I love big chunks of tomato, if you don't you can mince that as well.).
4. After the 1/2 hour, the beans should be in a thick, creamy sauce. Stir in the diced tomatoes, garlic, onion, and pepper. Leave on the heat an additional 2-3 minutes, just enough to heat the onions and peppers.
5. Serve warm over corn chips, corn bread, or rice.