I see no entries on the lowly bean! I make a hella pot of beans. So much so, that folks who usually hat ethem, ask for seconds! (and no, they'e not feeding 'em to the dog!)

Black Bean Soup

1 lb black beans
celery, onions, carrots, and peppers of your choice
5 or 6 cloves of garlic
oregano, thyme, seasoned pepper
1 15 or 16 oz can of diced tomatoes and chilies
lots of olive oil
1 12 oz bottle of Guinness Extra Stout
salt to taste

Soak your beans over night. Chop veggies and grate carrots. Sautee aromatics, garlic, and herbs in much olive oil until onions are transparent. If you cook this in a crock pot, put everything in all at once and forget about it for six hours. If you're cooking stove top, it can be done in two.

Add your olive oil logged goodies to the beans, add the can of tomatoes and chilies. Slowly add the Guinnes, 'cause it will bubble up something fierce. Add about a half a cup to a cup of olive oil. Don't add salt until you're ready to serve, 'cause it hardens the bean skins.

This is so good served with a really dark grainy bread and muenster cheese.