Buy beans dry...not from a can

Since our family only eats meat occasionally throughout the week, we make sure we get our protein elsewhere. Mostly from black, white or pinto beans.

We seem to cook with them often: bean burgers, rice & beans, added to a soup, etc. We've even done them as pizza toppings. And since our picky daughter doesn't like them, sometimes we have to blend them up to hide them in our dinner (like in our potato & gnocchi soup last night..it simply thickened up the broth).

Okay, so I have no idea - by my guess would be that most people buy their beans in a can instead of dry beans in a bag. I could be wrong about that...but I do know that dry beans are a much cheaper way to go, and healthier since canned beans probably have added sodium and other preservatives (again, I could be wrong since I haven't checked their labels).

So here is all you need to do to make your beans on the stove:

The Super Easy Way

1. Boil water
2. Add beans and cook for about an hour to an hour and a half

The Slightly More Elaborate Way

1. Soak beans for 2 to 6 hours
2. Saute some onions in olive oil (this is optional, depending on what you're using the beans for)
3. Add the beans using the same water they were soaked in. Make sure they are covered with about 2 inches of water
4. Bring to a boil and leave on high heat for 10 minutes
5. Reduce to a simmer and cook for an hour to an hour and a half (keep an eye on the water level and add water as needed)
6. Add the salt when it's almost done cooking

These steps I saw in a video and the beans turn out really well this way. And it's still a very simple process.

Another way to add some flavor is to cook them in chicken broth instead of water.