(stewed beans)
4 Cups pinto beans
1 or 2 Tablespoons Baking soda
1 onion
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon garlic powder

Wash beans thoroughly by placing beans in a colander in the sink and running water over it while washing the beans by hand, rinsing through several times, making sure they are completely clean. Soak beans in tall stockpot or cold crockpot overnight with baking soda. (It is said that the soda removes some of the gas; not sure if that is true, but I still do it.) Make sure water covers beans allowing them to still be covered with water after doubling in size during soaking process. In the morning, drain into colander and rinse thoroughly. Pour beans into pot or crockpot. Add whole onion after cutting off the stem & root and peeling off the skin. Sprinkle with salt, garlic, and cover with water. If in a pot, bring to a boil and simmer until soft, 1 or 2 hours. Or let cook in crock pot set on low all day, may take 8 hours.

Options: can also add pieces of cooked meat, bacon, or sausage.