Basic Beans

 Use this basic method to cook any type of dried bean, including cannellini, kidney beans, chickpeas, and more. Try cooked cannellini in smooth White Bean Soup with Shrimp, kidney beans in Roasted Vegetable Minestrone, and chickpeas in Creamy Chickpea Soup with Crisp Chorizo.

• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 to 3 sprigs fresh herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, or flat-leaf parsley)
• 1 to 1-1/2 cups dried beans, sorted through and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Wrap the bay leaves, garlic, and herbs in cheesecloth and tie with twine. Put the beans in a large pot and cover with water by 2 inches (about 2 quarts). Add the herb bundle and the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to maintain a very gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the beans are tender (try biting into one) but not splitting and falling apart, 1 to 2 hours depending on the type and freshness the of beans. Cannellini and kidney beans take about 1 hour and 15 minutes; chickpeas may take up to two hours. (check occasionally to be sure the beans aren’t boiling and are covered with liquid; add water if needed). Discard the herb bundle.

If you're using the beans in soup, reserve some of the cooking liquid for the broth.

Slow Cooker Chili

Use your slow cooker to make mealtime come together fast. You can brown the meat first (in a large skillet over medium-high heat), or combine the raw meat with the other ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work.

• 1-1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 Tbs. chili powder
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• One 15-oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• One 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• One 14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes with jalapeño chile peppers and spices, undrained
• 6 Tbs. shredded Cheddar cheese

Sides and Toppings

• Sour cream
• Diced onion
• Diced tomato
• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar Cheese
• Warmed tortillas with honey and butter

Combine all of the ingredients except for the sides and toppings in a medium to large slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours. Serve with the sides and toppings in bowls on the side.

Slow Cooker Chili

Use your slow cooker to make mealtime come together fast. You can brown the meat first (in a large skillet over medium-high heat), or combine the raw meat with the other ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work.

• 1-1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 Tbs. chili powder
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• One 15-oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• One 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• One 14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes with jalapeño chile peppers and spices, undrained
• 6 Tbs. shredded Cheddar cheese

Sides and Toppings

• Sour cream
• Diced onion
• Diced tomato
• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar Cheese
• Warmed tortillas with honey and butter

Combine all of the ingredients except for the sides and toppings in a medium to large slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours. Serve with the sides and toppings in bowls on the side.

Slow Cooker Chili

Use your slow cooker to make mealtime come together fast. You can brown the meat first (in a large skillet over medium-high heat), or combine the raw meat with the other ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work.

• 1-1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 Tbs. chili powder
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• One 15-oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• One 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• One 14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes with jalapeño chile peppers and spices, undrained
• 6 Tbs. shredded Cheddar cheese

Sides and Toppings

• Sour cream
• Diced onion
• Diced tomato
• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar Cheese
• Warmed tortillas with honey and butter

Combine all of the ingredients except for the sides and toppings in a medium to large slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours. Serve with the sides and toppings in bowls on the side.

Slow Cooker Chili

Use your slow cooker to make mealtime come together fast. You can brown the meat first (in a large skillet over medium-high heat), or combine the raw meat with the other ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work.

• 1-1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 Tbs. chili powder
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• One 15-oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• One 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• One 14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes with jalapeño chile peppers and spices, undrained
• 6 Tbs. shredded Cheddar cheese

Sides and Toppings

• Sour cream
• Diced onion
• Diced tomato
• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar Cheese
• Warmed tortillas with honey and butter

Combine all of the ingredients except for the sides and toppings in a medium to large slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 6 hours. Serve with the sides and toppings in bowls on the side.