Slow Cooker Habichuelas a la Sabrina

Last night was beautiful. I decided to start off my first revision weekend by relaxing and reaffirming my intent not to re-enter crazy-unhappy-shenpa state during the next 5 weeks. So I did 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer snd then invited vgnwtch over for a relaxing homey evening of unplanned-out laughing and pleasure.

While we talked, I prepared the ingredients for slow-cooker habichuelas (frijoles for those from Mexico or Central America, beans for English speakers). It was so cool and so pleasurable!

I haven't had the luxury of cooking much for the last year (at least). I had just started cooking again with my own home-grown vegetables and herbs when I learned that I would be doing major revisions. While scheming with vgnwtch about how to continue to indulge in simple homey pleasures over the coming weeks despite this detour into big-time work, she suggested that I buy a little slow cooker. Hmmm, thought I.

I'm not a person with much slow cooking experience, but what they hey. The little 2-quart ones are only $8.50 at Walmart and they make a manageable amount of food for 1-2 people, so why not? A few minutes in the am would allow me to use my lovely produce and it breaks my heart to see my babies spoil from lack of cooking time.

I tried it and I love it, love it, love it! My first attempt (chicken breast, potatoes, baby carrots and rehydrated wild mushrooms) was wonderful, fast and easy. I spent perhaps 8 minutes preparing ingredients in the morning without a recipe and I came home to the heady, luscious smell of hot herbed food greeting me before I even opened the door. Wow. And boy, was it tender! Wow.

So last night I did many of my favorite things: talked and laughed with vgnwtch while I prepared my dish, stopping here and there to pick something outside, put it in the crock. Then we ate a simple but yummy vgnwtch - provided dinner and took a long walk in the cool, early fall evening. We spent the time talking about life, the universe and everything, and the came back to exchange massages and watch Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" (thank you Cat!). Lovely....just lovely.

Those of you who have time in the evenings and good friends and/or lovers to laze away with them---remember that you are really blessed.

Anyway, here is my recipe, which emerged this morning stunning and tender and fabulous in flavor. I can't wait to make some rice and eat the loveliest rice and beans you have ever seen for lunch!

( Habichuelas a la Sabrina )

Last recipe note

I forgot to mention that in the morning when you get up and check on the beans, you should take a small bit to make sure that they are done. Cooking times will vary depending on your cooker and the exact length of time they cooked overnight. They may not be completely tender when you arise, if so, put the lid back on and keep cooking until the beans come out tender. Add in the last two ingredients (2 packets of Sazon Goya and cilantro) *only* after the beans are completely cooked and tender.