Fried Cabbage

Now this is about as simple as you can get!  All you do to make this is cut your fresh cabbage in thin slices.  Wash well and pat dry. 

 

Put a couple of tablespoons of really good olive oil in a skillet.  Add the cabbage and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Then you just sauté – stir-fry – till tender. 

 

That’s it!  I must say – it really is delicious!

Pinto Beans

*First of all, you can’t cook Pinto Beans at the last minute.  Dry beans take hours but there is no work to it.  You don’t have to stand over them while the cook.

 

Wash your beans in a strainer and make sure you sort out any discolored beans or bits of rock. Put your beans in a stock pot and add water about 2 inches above the top of the beans.  Cut the fire on high and bring the beans to a boil – allow to boil about 5 minutes – then turn the beans off, cover and let sit for 1 hour. 

 

When that hour is over pour off the water, add fresh water to about 2 inches above the top of the beans.  You will add water throughout the cooking time periodically.  Turn your temperature up under the pot and bring the beans to a boil and then reduce to a slow, steady simmer.  Add your seasoning meat – a piece of salt pork, ham or even a few slices of bacon.  You will need to add salt and pepper as well, but you will have to judge this by how much beans you are cooking.  Sometimes I add a few stalks of celery just for extra flavor.

 

Now you just let them cook.  Give them a stir every now and then – add water when it gets down to the top of the beans.  It will take several hours to cook them till they are tender – but it is well worth the effort.

 

When they are done you can ladle them into a bowl or have some rice to pour them over.