just like mamacita...

used to make!  my mom makes THE BEST rice and beans...hands down!  i've been wanting to recreate her frijoles a la charra for some time now, and yesterday was the day...and guess what?  i nailed it!!!  it was the first time for me to cook beans like this, and she wasn't even around to help.  but w/ some tips from my brother and my sister AND their recollection of what my mom does, i gave it a shot.  i have to admit they were a little salty, and i may know why.  i told my mom my recipe and process and she said that she doesn't salt the water (i did).  i will have to play around w/ the recipe the next time i cook them.  although, it will be awhile as i cooked a big pot o' beans!

the beginning

the end :)

i'm not going to share this recipe until i figure out the salt situation.  honestly, i felt much like my mom as i was cooking this...no measuring, no idea how long i cooked them, and it just came from the heart :)  the idea that i was trying to recreate the taste of my mom's delicious beans was pretty exciting, and omgoodness, the house smelled dee-lish, lol!  i told the hubs, "well, it smells like i'm doing something right!"  seriously, he could tell you how anxious i was about the outcome AND how proud and excited i was that they tasted just like mom's :)  once i have these down, it's on to her rice!

be thinking of that one dee-lish dish of your mama's that you would love to "nail"...another contest is simmering ;)