Crock Pot Pinto Bean Bonanza

"I was fed up with searching for tasty slow cooker pinto recipes, so I mixed and matched and came up with my own. This recipe is fresh from bachelorhood, yet so good. Imagine the warm goodness of semi spicy pintos oozing over steaming brown rice. It's the perfect combo of flavor and value - not to mention a complete protein. Enjoy, and let me know how it can be improved!"

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups water

2 cups dry pintos

½ cup onion flakes

2 pieces of bacon, fried, with drippings

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. paprika

1 tbs. salt

2 tbsp. pickled sliced jalapeño

6 oz tomato paste

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 can ranch style beans

½ lb Kielbasa (optional)

1 bell pepper (added at the end)

½ cup diced green onions (sprinkled on top after serving)

DIRECTIONS: