Homemade Refried Beans

I was given this recipe by a friend of mine about a year and 1/2 ago and I can honestly say I have never purchased another can of refried beans again! This recipe is FABULOUS and totally easy!!!

Now the measurements on this is a bit tricky because I usually eyeball it...so you may have to play around a bit. You do this right in your crockpot.

Ingredients:
fill about 1/3 of your crockpot with dry pinto beans
1 package bacon
3-4 cloves of fresh garlic minced
approx. 5-6 cans of chicken stock
1/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste
2-3 cups shredded cheddar and jack cheese

Saok beans overnight. Rinse and sift through because sometimes you can get little rocks in there. Put the beans in the crockpot. Add all the bacon, the garlic, pepper, and probably about a T. of salt. You may need to add more when they are done. Then fill with chicken stock until it covers the beans about an inch. To cook, it ususally takes about 6 hours on high. They saok up alot of liquid, so you may have to add more and don't worry about adding too much because it will all come out when they are done. You will know when the beans are done because they will pop. You can also spoon one out and taste it. If its soft, its done.

So when they are done, take a fork and pick out the bacon. You want to get out all the big pieces. Then you will want to spoon out the remaing liquid. But reserve this because you may need to add some back after you mash them. Now get a potato masher and mash the beans to a consistancy you prefer and then add the shredded cheese. The cheese will melt into the beans. Add as much as to your liking. At this point taste them and decide if you need more salt.

*For a variation you could replace the cheddar with pepperjack cheese and it would make a great dip.
*This recipe makes a crockpot full, so if you are feeding a smaller number you can cut it in half.