Pinto Bean Fudge (Yes Pinto Beans)

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As all of you know, who know me…..I love corn bread and beans.  I was raised on pinto beans and corn bread, and it is still one of my favorite meals.  In fact this last trip to Ohio, my grandma made me just that, my favorite meal.  Mom helped by making some fried pork chops and fried potatoes to go along with them.  This is probably one of my most favorite comfort meals ever.   Maybe not your most nutritious meal, but you can’t beat it. 

I’ve even kept a jar of pinto beans that my Mamaw Potter (Great Grandmother)  had grown in her own garden.  For some reason pinto beans are just a part of my life, like pasta sauces are part of most Italian families.  I honestly believe I could live on them and cornbread.

This recipe though is not  from my moms southern family side, it is one from my grandma Jean, who is my paternal grandmother.   I had my favorite pinto beans on both sides of the family it seems.   Growing up,  I was never convinced there were pinto beans in grandmas fudge  even when I watched make it.  I thought she somehow was pulling my leg like she sometimes liked to do.

So one night I was looking through grandmas recipe box that she had given to me keep (and I treasure it so much) I ran across this recipe.  Finding this took me right back to her farm kitchen when I was a child.   So many of my favorite memories from my childhood are wrapped around being in the kitchen with my mom, grandmothers and aunts.

I will admit though, when I make this recipe and am mashing up pinto beans I always think what a waste.  These little jewels need to be put over some hot corn bread, not mashed up like this.  I actually now put them into a food processor to make them nice an smooth when making grandma’s fudge.

So here we go.  Let me know what y’all think about it.

Ingredients

• 1  1/2 cups pinto beans (cooked not dry)
• 1 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 3/4 cup butter melted (grandmas recipe called for oleo)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 7 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Now grandma did hers by boiling then draining the beans to get them nice and hot, but I tried doing it in the microwave and it turned out well. so in a microwave-safe dish, mash beans with a fork until smooth; cover and microwave for 1-1/2 minutes or until heated through.
2. Add cocoa, butter and vanilla. (Mixture will be thick.  If you have a stand mixer you can use it, I use mine with paddle attachment)
3. Slowly stir in sugar till well incorporated then add walnuts.
4. Press mixture into a 9-in. square pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1-in. pieces.