I had a great deal at my grocers a couple of months ago, so I have about 120 cans of beans!! Mostly pinto, black and kidney, but I also have some chili and red beans as well. I just had to stock up ~ they were about .10 a can on average. Couldn't pass it up.

I'm running out of ways to serve them. We have chili, taco salad and burritos, but what else can I do that's creative?? We mostly eat them with tortillas, but that's getting a bit boring.

We can eat some meat with them and can do meatless. I have a family of 6 and beans are a great way to stretch our food $. (...and, No, we're not a "gassy" familiy).

Can anyone help??

TIA!

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SAHM of 4

August food budget (groceries/take-out): $500.00/$75.00
Total spent: $238.97/$14.12

July budget/spent: $500.00/$650.00

We like 3 layer Mexican pie. brown 2 lbs of hamburger, mix with 2 cans of refried beans and 2 pks of taco seasoning. Spread the mixture in the bottom of a 9X13 pan. Top with a layer of sour cream and top sour cream with shredded cheddar. bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. We like to eat it with tortilla chips.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Growing up we had a "goulash" that was simple and yummy. It's just 1 lb browned hamburger, onion (browned w/hamb.) and 2 cans of kidney beans. Cook until warmed thoroughly. I also have a black bean dip you have with chips that's yummy....I think it's posted somewhere.

Good Luck!

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You can boil them and mash them up, creating a pastey texture. Not to watery, not too thick. Fry the mix in a pan with hot oil until bubbly. Add chorizo and voila. Cook the chorizo thoroughly too. I love these with eggs sunny side up!

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You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi

Well my mother used to make a dish called calico beans. It's a bunch of different kinds of beans mixed together, has some ground beef and some bacon and then cooked in a sauce. It was SCRUMPTIOUS!!! Everywhere she took it people begged for the recipe. We ate it as a side dish, but I guess since it does have some meat in it it could be a main dish. I know you said you're not a gassy family...but this is probably one of the more gassy recipes I've ever eaten. But we all eat it anyway because we love it!!

I don't have my mother's exact recipe, but in looking online I found several that are similar, so I think you could use any of them or adapt them a little maybe to use what you have.

Cooks.com - Recipes - Calico Beans

Calico Beans Recipe with Bacon and Ground Beef - Calico Beans in the Crockpot

Calico Bean Casserole - Allrecipes

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Black Bean Soup
(I make this for mexican parties as a 1st course)

simple and awesome

2 (15oz)black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c vegetable broth
1 c chunky salsa
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp cumin
4 Tbs sour cream
2 Tbs sliced green onion

Mix beans, broth, salsa, and cumin.,heat til hot.
Pulse 1 or twice w/stick blender and serve w/sour cream and green onion.

Takes about 15 min and is delish!!

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Pinto Bean Cake

1 c sugar
1/4 c butter
1 egg
2 c cooked pinto beans, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 c golden raisins
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 c chopped pecans
2 cs diced apple without peel

Preheat oven to 375
Grease 9 or 10 in tube pan.

Cream butter,sugar together. Add the beaten egg and mix well. Stir in the mashed cooked beans and the vanilla.

Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground allspice together. Add the chopped pecans, golden raisins, and the diced apples to the flour mix. Stir to coat. Pour flour mixture into the creamed mixe and stir til just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake 45 min.

Drzzle w/powdered sugar icing.

Taste just like a spice cake...noone knows it has beans in it!!

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Mash them with spices and make bean dip.

YUM!! Thanks so much ladies!! You've given me some great recipes!

Can't wait to try them!!!

Thanks again!

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SAHM of 4

August food budget (groceries/take-out): $500.00/$75.00
Total spent: $238.97/$14.12

July budget/spent: $500.00/$650.00