More Fun with the Pressure Cooker

A while back, I told you about my favorite new kitchen tool, the Presto Pressure Cooker. A friend wrote to me about using it to cook dried beans. I've been trying to incorporate more beans in our diet, and I decided one day last week to try out the cooker with beans.  As a preface, I have not had great luck cooking beans.  They usually turn out crunchy (yuck!)
I started with two bags like this (although I cooked black eyed peas):

 

I soaked the beans overnight, as prescribed on the back of the bag.  Then, using the instructions from the cooker, I cooked the beans with the recommended amount of water and a little bit of oil.  The whole process was done in 30 minutes.  They were super tender, and turned out great.  Two bags made a lot:

Ready for the freezer!  

I had enough to make tacos that night, and also a treat:

Have you ever heard of bean fudge?  Yes, bean fudge.  It was quite yummy!  And, a fun way to get the kids to agree that beans are OK.  Here's the recipe:

Bean Fudge

1 c. soft cooked beans, mashed

3/4 c. butter

6 Tablespoons cocoa

2/3 c. powdered milk

1/2 Tablespoon vanilla

4 1/2c. powdered sugar

Beat together beans and butter.  Add powdered milk, cocoa, and vanilla.  Slowly beat in powdered sugar one cup at a time, until mixture is firm.  Spread into buttered dish.  Keep in the refrigerator. 

I was a little bit skeptical, but these actually turned out really good...and they are a lot less fat than typical fudge. 

 Here's little boy tasting the fudgy goodness before it goes in the refrigerator.