Taco Ranch Beans
Thanks to my friend Bill from church who gave me the idea for this recipe, passed down from his grandfather.
Don’t you love meeting husbands and dads who love to cook and do so regularly for their families? I do. I know a few and find this special talent to be very charming, particularly when they are unafraid to let people know about it. Even proud. They should be. Guys, don’t be afraid to step into the kitchen and get creative!
When serving these beans, you have lots of options…
No matter how you do it, you’re gonna love these Taco Ranch Beans. While enjoying them, members of our family discussed how moving to the south has drastically broadened our definition of beans, maybe even redefined it altogether. For, although we still enjoy the sweet, molasses-and-bacon-flavored beans we grew up with, now we also like borracho beans and other South / Southwest inspired bean dishes.
Taco Ranch Beans
serves 6-8 or more
1 can of pinto beans
1 can of RANCH style beans
1 can of navy beans
1 can of V-8
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing seasoning
1 lb. cooked meat — crumbled ground beef, shredded pork, leftover grilled chicken, etc.
Put everything in the crock pot for half of a day or a soup pot on the stove for at least 30 minutes on low.
Okay, I know that’s too easy. Shall I make up some complicated instructions so that we will all feel like accomplished cooks? Shall I write long, detailed directions that you can print and leave lying around to impress others? Sorry.
I will say that I decided to serve this with chopped lettuce and cilantro on the side and some corn chips, too. When we sat down, my dear husband began piling everything on his plate (he pushed the bowl to the side) — chips, lettuce, and then poured the beans on top. My culinary-minded son asked if we had any limes. Although we didn’t, we got out the bottled lime juice. He sprinkled it over everything and dug right in.
So, the meal that I expected to be a bowl of soup, chips, and a salad turned out to be an elaborate taco ranch bean salad. I love my creative family!
Add comment May 23rd, 2007