Beans have become my new staple. I try to use a variety of beans in a variety of ways.

To cook dried beans, I always start by precooking. This releases the gas-producing stuff and assures that you’ll still have friends around you the next day!

Rinse beans and place them in a heavy Dutch oven; cover beans with enough water to reach about 1 inch above the beans. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat; boil on high for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and let the beans soak for at least one hour. Drain beans into a colander and rinse well; return to Dutch oven and cook according to your recipe.