Recipe: Beans Ala Charra (Guatemala)

Beans Ala Charra (Guatemala)
alt.cooking-chien/Sandy (shallot)/1998

My husband's mother always made these for my husband when he was younger. When we went to Guatemala after we got married, he got the recipe from her so I could make them for him.

16 oz. dry pinto beans
water
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes, diced (tomatoes with diced chile peppers)
1 (16 oz.) pkg. bacon, cooked, cut into 1-inch pieces
cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Cover the pintos with water and bring to a boil. Cover and remove from heat. Let sit one to two hours.

Rinse beans; place beans back into pot. Add onion, garlic, and Rotel. Cover with water. Simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Add bacon. Simmer about 20 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro and season with salt and pepper.

My mother-in-law also puts chopped up hot dogs in as well.