Slow Cooked Beans

Add these awesome beans to your next picnic! These take more time than opening a can, but they are sweet and delicious! You can also add meat such as bacon, Canadian bacon, ham or hamburger to this recipe. I cook these on the stove but you can also make them in a crock pot (after step 3). You will need to cook them on high for about 4 hours or 8 hours on low, if you are using a crock pot.
Ingredients:
1 bag dried navy beans (1 pound)
1 shallot, diced
3 garlic cloves, diced
1 T cumin
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce or 1 c tomato sauce (homemade sauce works great)
2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1-2 T honey mustard or Dijon mustard
2 1/2 cups water

1. Rinse and drain your navy beans then put them into a medium size pan. Cover the beans with water (about an inch above the beans) and heat them until they boil. Turn off the heat, cover and let them sit for 2 hours. (Another option for this step, if you have the time you can let your beans soak overnight, it will lessen your cooking time.) 
2. Use another pan (I use a Dutch Oven) to heat your oil, shallots, and garlic. After about 5 minutes, add your vinegar, brown sugar, sauce, salt and mustard. Heat until the mixture boils. 
3. Remove your beans from the first pan and drain the water. 
4. Add  2 1/2 cups of water to your Dutch Oven and add the drained beans. Heat everything until it boils, then reduce the heat and cover. * Optional - you may add cooked meat such as bacon, Canadian bacon, ham, or ground beef if you want.
5. Simmer over low heat for about 2-3 hours. You will have to test your beans to make sure they are done, sometimes they can take longer or a shorter time if you soaked them overnight. 
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.
7. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container. Makes about 8 servings. Enjoy!

 Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi