Basic Bean Cooking Directions
Ingredients:
1 cup dry beans, any variety
4 cups water
1 t. salt

Directions:
Put all ingredients into a cooking pot and bring to a boil. 
Cover and turn heat down to somewhere between medium and low. 
You want the boil to continue, just not to fast.  Simmer beans
for about 2 to 3 hours or until soft and completely cooked. Don't
let the beans run out of water so check them now and again and
add more water if needed. This recipe may be multiplied many
times depending on how many beans you need.  You can freeze
cooked beans in 2 cup portions to use in any recipe that calls
for a can of beans.  This is very handy to have on hand and much
more inexpensive than buying canned beans.  

Here is one of my family's favorite budget friendly bean meals.

Sloppy Joes
Crystal Miller
Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
4 to 5 cups cooked beans,  we like to use black beans
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 green or red pepper, chopped
1 ½ cups ketchup, fruit sweetened if possible
2T Worcestershire sauce
1 6oz. can tomato paste
¾ cup water
2 to 3T apple cider vinegar, according to taste
3T Sucanat or Brown Sugar
1t dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Brown hamburger with onions and green pepper.  Add cooked beans. 
In a small bowl mix remaining ingredients.  Add to hamburger bean
mixture and simmer long enough to get everything hot and blend
flavors.

Serve on homemade whole wheat French Bread Rolls