Portuguese Beans
4 cups dried pinto beans, soak overnight
3-4 slices bacon, diced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 (8-oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (15-oz.) can tomatoes
1 lb. linguica sausage, sliced (optional - hard to find if you are not near a Portuguese community)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
Presoak beans, rinse and cover with water and simmer for 1 hour.
Fry bacon and onions together until onions are tender and add to beans. Add remaining ingredients except cinnamon and nutmeg and simmer.
I let them cook several hours and in the last 30 minutes add the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Beans are always better the second day and a good loaf of French bread to eat along with the beans is great!