Slow cooker pinto beans

2 cup Pinto beans, dry beans boiled, I use any brand (quick soak method on stove) rinse beans after one hour soak before placing them into your crock pot with fresh water.
6 cup (8 fl oz) Water, tap, filtered (broth can be substituted, but I try to cut down on sodium at every turn in my cooking and the pepper and bacon grease flavors are plenty!
3 serving Bacon - Pork 1 medium slice pan fried ( add all the greases from the pan to the slow cooker as well) or omit this and smoked sausage for a vegetarian dish!
3 serving Garlic - minced (1 tsp) personally I buy the already minced garlic in a jar in the produce section for my garlic needs.
1 tbsp Chili powder ( I use Fiesta brand, but use your personal favorite.
1 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Corse Sea Salt
1 tsp Pepper, black ( mine is from a grinder with settings for fine, medium and course. I use medium.
12 oz oscar mayer selects hardwood smoked uncured beef sausage ( I get the kind without nitrates or nitrites added.
2 bay leaves( remove after cooking)

You can add a jalapeño pepper to taste for some heat. I've never made it this way yet, but it's a southern favorite.
OMIT all the bacon and smoked sausage for a vegetarian dish.

After quick soaking the dry beans, follow package directions for this, rinse beans in fresh water then add all ingredients to the crock pot or slow cooker and cook on High for 3 to 4 hours and on low for 8 to 10 hours. I make mine on high but prefer to add to smoked sausage at the end or last 30 minutes or it feels too hard and done.

Serving Size: Makes 8 one cup servings

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user MELTEA43.