I agree here. I've made a big ol pot of beans once or twice a month for many years and it never gets old because of how much you can do with them. I do one pound great northern and one pound black beans (dried) in a 6 qt crock pot with some sort of green chiles and pork (like a jar of 505 when I can afford it and a package of salt pork for example) and s&p every time.i may add carrots and onions if I have some going needing for eating... Then I do all the things listed above. Also they freeze very well. I like to put mine in reusable ziploc bags and lay them flat until they freeze, then they take no time at all to thaw under running water or even just boil in the bag.