For someone allergic to cooking, I made a damn fine bean soup today.

[Catshrink]

The crockpot did it.

It definitely needs something like this to go with it:

[TheKentuckian]

1. Crackers? You need some hotwater cornbread with that (nt)

[Catshrink]

4. No crackers

that's a photo I found on the Internets. Mine looks much the same except for that.

[MajorChode]

8. I like crackers with mine sometimes

Usually I do go with cornbread though. I posted my recipe the other day.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=9066352&mesg_id=9066461

[Zomby Woof]

2. Crock pots rule

It's not really autumn until you break it out.

Good choice of brew by the way. ;-)

[Catshrink]

5. The brew was awesome!

I usually drink Black Butte Porter but decided to try another of their brews. Deschutes Brewery makes some great beers.

[bermudat]

3. Care to share the recipe?

[Catshrink]

6. Recipe?

It's a bastardized version of Bernard Clayton's:

1# navy beans, soaked overnight and rinsed (or you can blanch them which I think degasses them better)
2 quarts water (I used about half chicken stock this time, he says use 3 but it's too watery for me)
2 medium onions, finely chopped (he says 3 but I'm not big on onions)
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 "country ribs" (he says ham bone, I've used ham hocks before, the ribs aren't as salty)

Toss into the crockpot on low for 6 hours or longer then

mush up some of the beans and add

1 largish potato mashed
some parsley
1/4 t pepper
salt to taste

It makes a large pot of soup! My sister said it freezes and I'm going to try it this time.

This soup needs a dark brew!

The one I have: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510GZQRDTNL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

The newer version:

His bread book is wonderful too.

[MajorChode]

7. Leftover bean soup is even better the next day

You can also run it through the food processor, add some cayenne pepper and lime juice, and make bean dip out of it. Cold beans are great on a green salad or pasta salad (black beans are my favorite for this). You can make refried beans out of them and use them with some other Mexican dish or make a burrito out of them. Leftover red beans are good with rice (the real red beans, not kidney beans). They make great filler in chili. The possibilities are endless. I make legumes of some type or another 2-4 times per month. Sometimes more. I've got some soaking for tomorrow right now.