Trail Drive Beans
12-ounce pkg dry red beans
2 ½ C Water
1/3 pound salt pork, diced (2/3 Cup)
2 lbs beef cubes (4 Cups)
1 C chopped onions
1 clove garlic, minced
1 6oz can tomato paste
4 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin seed
1 t. salt
1 t. crushed dried red pepper
1 bay leaf
Wash beans and soak overnight in cold water; drain. Put beans in a large Dutch oven, add 2½ cups water and simmer 1 hour. Render salt pork in skillet; add beef and brown. Pour off excess fat and add pork and beef to beans with remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 2 hours, adding hot water as needed.
Makes 6-8 servings
Source: MCB’s; Chuck wagon cooking from Marlboro country