Side Bite: Slow Cooker Black Beans

Hi Busies!  In the first few months of my first job after college, I struggled with the transition to working full time.  I was alone in a new city, without any friends to explore it with, and I was getting home drained from long days of work.  Of course, I got used to the work schedule, and I made some friends, but there was one constant during that period – the feeling of relief when I got home to a hot, ready-to-go meal nestled in the warm embrace of my Crock Pot.  And so began my love affair with my slow cooker (my boyfriend only gets a tiny bit jealous of the two of us!). With a hectic weeknight schedule, it can be hard to prioritize made-from-scratch side dishes… it seems so appealing to just dump out a can of beans and call it a day. But, one of the biggest things I focus on in my cooking is using high quality ingredients.  If you start with the best, you don’t have to add a bunch of extra, complicated ingredients – the dish will stand on its own, and it ends up being less work!  It’s definitely a hard balance to find – as busy as I know we all are, we don’t always have the time to make everything from scratch.  However, these beans require very little active cooking time, and they really enhance a meal beyond the canned version.  Not to mention they’re more affordable and freezable!  Make a big batch and freeze in portions – these make a great addition to my Salsa Chicken, or can be added to soup, a breakfast with scrambled eggs and salsa, or just served as a side.  These come out soft, tender, and full of flavor – YUM!

What’s your favorite way to use your crock pot?  Let me know in the comments below!