Kathy Pollard

​A basic bean recipe that can be dressed up with spices when you are ready to make it your very own.

Ingredients:

• 1 C dried black beans, or 1 can drained and rinsed
• 1 green pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed
• 4 C water or vegetable broth
• 2 T vinegar (optional)
• Salt, pepper (optional)
• Sliced lemons for flavor and decoration

Instructions:

Soak dried beans overnight in a bowl of water, enough to cover them.  Rinse and drain.  Simmer the beans in a covered pot of water enough to cover them for an hour, or until just soft.  Drain and rinse beans. 
On medium heat, sauté onion in a pot with a splash of orange-carrot juice, broth or other liquid.  Add green pepper and bay leaf.  Add everything else and cook together in the 4 cups of water for 1 hour, or until beans are soft.  Add vinegar, lemon or spices when soft, if desired.
Arrange lemon slices on top for flavor and decoration.