Cowboy Chili Beans

(it's all about the name people)

Spicy and filling, these beans make a delicious side dish. Add sausage, (my addition) and top them on a baked potato, rice, corn biscuit or noodles and you'll have hearty main dish.
A bonus, they cook up in your crock-pot!

• Dice 1 or 2 bell peppers and 1 onion.

Saute in olive oil, until cooked and tender.

Put in a crock-pot:

• 3 cups (or 2 cans) of cooked pinto beans, with liquid
• 2 - 4 T minced garlic
• 1 - 2+ T chili powder
• 2+ tsp oregano
• 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, start with less and add to desired 'kick'
• salt and pepper

Turn crock-pot on high and stir well.

If desired, fry up 1# of sausage. Drain fat, add to crock-pot along with:

• sauteed peppers and onion
• 1 - 2 cups of ketchup or a 4 oz can of tomato paste
• 2 - 4 T Worcestershire sauce

Cook on high for 2 - 3 hours with the lid off*. Then turn to low and cook for 2 - 4 hours.

We ate them with oven roasted (red) potatoes. The meal was a hit with my entire family, perfect for cold winter day.

*Cooking with the lid off will help to thicken if you use ketchup. If you use tomato paste it should already be fairly thick. I used ketchup.

Let your cow-pokes dress the part.
Remember 'it's all about the name'.