Tex-Mex Pinto Beans

Directions

1. 1
   Wash and clean the beans, then bring them to a boil in 4 cups of water.
2. 2
   Cook them for 2 minutes, remove from the stove, cover and let them sit for an hour.
3. 3
   In a skillet, toast the cumin and chile powder over a medium high heat until they become fragrant (takes seconds).
4. 4
   Put the spices aside and rinse the skillet.
5. 5
   Cook the bacon in the skillet, saving the fat.
6. 6
   Remove the bacon and add the onions and garlic, and saute them for a minute.
7. 7
   Seed and chop the tomatoes and chop the bacon.
8. 8
   When the beans have soaked an hour, drain them, and add 8 cups of fresh water and all the other ingredients, except the salt.
9. 9
   Bring the beans to a boil, cover, cut the heat to low, and simmer them for about an hour.
10. 10
    Remove the lid and check to see there's enough water, which should be about an inch above the beans and stay that way, then add the salt.
11. 11
    Add more water if necessary.
12. 12
    Start checking the beans every 15 minutes for doneness.
13. 13
    To thicken the liquid, reduce it by cooking longer, or mash some of the beans.