Here is the situation (to which Julie and Rosie can attest): I LOVE beans. By love, I sincerely mean that at any given time if you put a plate full of beans in front of me, I will light up with a smile and do a happy dance. For reasons only higher powers can explain, I love beans for breakfast. In Latin/South America I am a) in HEAVEN and b) eat upwards of 5 pounds of beans per day. My breakfast, oh so happily, is generally exactly what the locals eat. Beans and tortillas. Throw in some jugo de manzana and you will have one seriously happy girl on your hands. I will not go on about Anafre in this post, but I can promise that if you are lucky enough to experience Anafre you will simultaneously experience pure, nirvana-like joy. Obviously, Latin American preparation of beans as a daily staple (for this body) is not sustainable. Think lard, delicious and amazing lard – in large quantities. The following awesomeness happened on a lazy Sunday at the lake. We have beans for days and, candidly, I could not be happier than if the beans were in fact gold.

Holy Awesomeness

Two Pounds Pinto Beans, rinsed and picked over
8 peppers, 4 jalapenos and 4 Serrano peppers, seeded and minced
Two cans Rotel (Tomatoes and Chilis)
One cup Bacon pieces
5 links Hot Italian Sausage, lightly seared
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 plus 1/2 onion, diced
2 heaping tablespoons ground oregano
2 heaping tablespoons black pepper
1 heaping tablespoons ground cumin
1 heaping tablespoons ground coriander
2 heaping tablespoon crushed red pepper
2 bottles Fat Tire Amber Ale
Six beef bouillon cubes
Water (or broth if you prefer)
Fresh Cilantro to be added at the end (one whole bunch or to taste)

Combine all (non-liquid) ingredients except fresh cilantro in a crockpot. Once ingredients are in pot, pour beer and then water (or broth) until the liquid reaches about one inch below the top of the crock pot. Add more liquid as necessary (I believe D ended up adding another can of Beer – this time miller light). Cook on a low heat for 8-10 hours, adding fresh cilantro in at the end of the cooking time. You will have beans for a week! Enjoy your pot of gold!