Habichuelas (stewed red kidney beans)

Serves 6-8

5 Tbl. Olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 Cuban or Rancho Pepper seeds & stem removed, diced
4 cloves garlic, pounded to a paste(or chopped fine)
1/2 Sofrito (recipe to follow)
1 1/2 C. tomato sauce
3 Tbl. chopped Cilantro
1 Potato peeled and diced
1 pound calabaza (pumpkin or squash) optional
4 oz. smoked ham, diced optional
1 pound dried red kidney beans, soaked in water overnight, drained
or 3 large cans kidney beans
2 tsp. Salt
3 1/2 C. water

Heat oil in heavy-bottomed pot over med. high heat. Warm oil, add the onions,pepper, garlic, and sofrito with ham.
about 3 min. until onion is translucent. Stir in tomato sauce and cilantro and cook for about 2 min. stirring so the ingredients do not stick to bottom of pot. Add the potato and pumpkin or squash optional. stir cook or another 3 min. Add the beans, pour in water season with salt stir well. bring to boil and cook for 4 min. then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 1/2 hrs. stir occasionally so that the starches do not stick to bottom and scorch. Serve hot over rice.

Recipe for Sofrito

Makes 3 cups

1/2 C. Oil
1 med. Onion, roughly chopped
12 cloves garlic, peeled
3 Cuban or Rancho Peppers seeded and rib taken out roughly chopped
2-3 Jalapeno peppers stem removed seeds if you don't like it hot
1 bunch cilantro leaves and tender stems only
1/2 C. fresh oregano leaves only loosely packed.
Put ingredients in blender and puree if to paste add more oil.
should be pourable.
at this point you can pour in ice cube trays and freeze for storage or put in container and store for 1 mo. in fridge.

Enjoy!