PINTO BEANS THE MOUNTAIN WAY

1 or 2 Lb. bag of pinto beans
1 Stick of Blue Bonnet Marg.or Parkay
1/2 Pack of bacon, fried and save the grease
Or can use 1 Medium piece of salt bacon and 1/3 cup oil
Water
Salt

Do Not Salt Beans Until Almost Done Ever.........

Now some people just don't know how to fix pinto beans or what we call them soup beans. Everyone I know loves my beans and no I don't mean to brag a bit they just do. I am like Paula I like to use butter or marg. This to me is what makes the beans. These are so good you can drink the soup. But cooking beans depends what type of kettle you cook them in and what kind of beans to buy. I like to buy the Walmanrt brand or the Kroger brand. Some beans makes red soup and that I do not like. I also don't like to fix them in a crockpot as this turns the soup red. Now for how to fix them. Of course, look them for the rocks that are sometimes in them. Do you ever wonder how they get in them, I do. Then wash them good at least three times. Then put them in a aluium. kettle or a heavy kettle and let them soak over night in water. To me this is what makes them so good.The next morning  fry up your bacon. I put some cooking oil in the pan and cut my bacon up in small pieces and let cook on medium not on high as the bacon will taste burned and this will ruin the flavor of the beans. Me, I sometimes just fry up the whole pack and make a sandwich with part of it. I let it get crunchy. Let cool .
Then pour the water off of the soaked bean and put fresh in the kettle and put them on and let boil for around 10 minutes or until you see a white foam form. Be carefual and don't get burnt and take them off of the stove and put them in a strainer, wash them again and put more water in them and put back on the stove on medium. I put a lid on mine and put a chopstick underneath the back side of the lid to let the steam out or they will overflow on your stove. Now add the bacon grease from the bacon and if you like you can put some of the bacon in as this gives more flavor, just don't be on a diet.lol. Next add the marg. cut in small pieces, I don't like to use anything but blue bonnet or parkay for this. If I don't use the bacon grease I add 1/3 cup of cooking oil along with the butter. I know, enough grease to about kill you.  I let mine cook for around 2 hours or until the beans are done. I add more water to them along the way make sure you keep pleanty of water in them that is what makes them so good if it is to much just let them cook a while longer and some of the water will cook out. If you like you can put some beno in them believe me you need this but I just put a medium potato that I peel and wash in them when they cook about half way done. This will work also. BUT don't let the potato cook to pieces. Take it out. Let it cook in them for at least 15 minutes. I only salt them when they are almost done. You have to taste them more than once to do this. I learned the hard way about salting beans. I cooked a pot for at least 4 hours one time and ask someone why it took so long. When did you salt them. At the beginning I said. No wonder they would not get done then. lol. I like to turn mine up on high for 5 minutes to get the soup thick but watch or they will BURN fast to. They will stick quick to the bottom of the kettle on high if you don't have a heavy kettle so if you don't use one just keep cooking them on medium.I also take some of them out and mash up and put them back in and this makes the soup thick. If 2 hours is not enough time to cook them just let them keep cooking longer on medium. Enjoy becuase they are good. Also  you can add a piece of salt bacon and cut it like a tic tac toe grid and put in them and not fry any bacon up.  Make sure you taste the beans before adding salt if you use this as they will be to salty. I love to eat the salt bacon with my beans. But still add the butter and some oil around 1/3 cup oil.  Fix some of my cornbread I will post to eat with these. We like to put chow-chow in them or add some mayo to our bowl and some people put some mustard in them in their bowl.We also got to have that big piece of onion to eat with them. Just remember to brush your teeth if you are going somewhere. lol. Most people fix fried potatoes as a side dish to go along with them and fried pork chops with pepper on them. If the butter don't blend in the beans when cooking at first don't worry just stir them and it will blend in. I stir mine about 5 times to make sure they don't stick to the bottom of the kettle. Sometimes even with water in them they will stick. Make sure you check on them.