Last night I put 2 cups of dried lentils, 8 cups of broth or water, 1 tbsp salt, 1 can of diced tomatoes with juice and a package of sausage cut into 1" discs in the slow cookeron low for 5 hours. It was really good, and I don't even like beans.

We like to make a big batch of black eyed peas and then use them to do the following:

- black eyed pea croquettes
- black eyed pea, corn, tomato, okra stew
- black eyed peas & rice with ham & collards
- fried fish with black eyed pea relish

It's one of my favorite bean weeks.

bean soup with ham (I used a leftover t-giving hambone + chopped extra)

chickpeas - hummus or falafel. Or I just make "chickpea salad" which is all the ingredients for hummus/falafel, mixed up in a bowl. I'm lazy.

bean chili

today I am having leftover (hm) chicken noodle soup with some extra chickpeas thrown in.

white bean, kale, and sausage soup

A friend raved about the Silver Palate black bean soup recipe. I recently made it without using any of the meat and it was a big hit with my 3 kids. We eat tons of beans/rice meals and this soup my kids actually really enjoyed (and fought over leftovers). I like spicier food and thought it was slightly bland and so I added hot pepper sauce and fresh cilantro to my portion, but I will happily make this again for the whole gang.
Here is that recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=821639

I also make a version of lentils and rice that is similar to this recipe. Super easy and fast.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/lentils-and-rice-with-fried-onions-mujadarrah/

I just tried a new red beans and rice recipe with dried beans that was fabulous: http://www.examiner.com/food-in-new-orleans/new-orleans-red-beans-and-rice-chef-john-besh-s-recipe. Yum!

I buy the 16 bean soup mix (goya brand). I cook them in chicken broth and spice it up with tyme, cumin, curry, sauteed onion green pepper and tomato, and I add anduille sausage towards the end.

So far we've had a bean and sausage soup, jambalaya, and now we are having pinto bean burritos tonight.

Any other bean recipes? Trying to go meatless and the dried bean route more to save $ on groceries and eat healthier. Interested in all varieties of beans... not limited to one type.

I did search the archives but didn't find too much there.