100 servings
Allow 3-4 hours cooking time.
8 pounds pinto beans, soaked overnight
4 gallons cooking water
2/3 cup dehydrated onion flakes
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2/3 cup chili powder
2 tablespoons white pepper
Soak the beans overnight. Use plenty of water, they will about triple in size. Drain the beans. Put beans and all seasonings in pot with the 4 gallons of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a steady simmer and cover. Cook two hours, check for tenderness, if needed allow another hour.
When the beans start to get tender, mash some of them against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. This will thicken the broth. Salt the beans to taste after they are done.
To improve the above recipe, add either a pound of chopped bacon or ham or a good-size ham hock to the pot after the first 2 hours.