Half-Smashed Refried Beans recipe featuring Bush’s Beans.
Boys are funny, aren’t they? March Madness is in full swing and the bracket talk around here between my husband and son and his friends is so funny to listen to. Baseball season is also upon us, so we are kind of limboing between being fans of two different sports at once.
The other day my son was on the phone (actually using it to talk, not text, which seemed odd) and he and his friend were alternating between discussing the odds of various basketball teams winning and stats of favorite baseball players. I couldn’t keep up. In fact, I have to think of a mnemonic device just to remember a single phone number, and then I’m lucky if I can even recite it. I still have to look up my sisters number when I call her, and she’s had the same phone number for forever!
It’s almost like boys have a special place in their brain to keep batting averages, percentage free throws made, season all time bests, etc. My son can’t remember that Thursday has been trash day for every day of his life, but if you ask him who was the all time leading base stealer in the MLB in 2009, he can tell you. It’s nuts.
Needless to say, they don’t look all that fondly at me when I fill out my brackets based on who has the coolest uniforms and which mascots are the cutest.
I guess my job is to keep them well fed during games so they can keep their brain power up to remember all those “important” stats.
The Half-Smashed Refried Beans recipe I chose to make for March Madness watching today is from the Bush’s Beans website. It’s a tasty dip recipe, but not your same old same old dip. It’s half smashed Bush’s Chili Beans and half Bush’s Pinto beans (I recommend using Bush’s Beans new reduced sodium variety). What absolutely makes this recipe shine though is the touch of Mexican beer added to the simmering bean pot. I can’t wait to make my favorite chili recipe and add some beer to it. The unique flavor it added to the beans was incredible.
If you can’t remember baseball stats or basketball stats, that’s ok… just remember to pin this recipe to make later so you can outshine them all. Enjoy!
Recipe: Half-Smashed Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce can Bush's Chili Beans, undrained
- 1 16-ounce can Bush's reduced sodium Pinto beans, drained
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 3/4 cup mild salsa
- 3 ounces Mexican or other beer
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoons Sirachi or other hot sauce
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Add chili beans to a 4-quart saucepan and mash gently with a potato masher or the back of a fork.
- Stir in remaining ingredients except tortilla chips. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes or until mixture is heated through.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Disclosure: I’m honored to be a compensated Bush’s Beans brand ambassador. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is such a funny post, and I am laughing because I do not have kids but my big kid at heart Lenny cannot remember Thursday trash day either but can remember trivia and current events like no-ones business! By the way, I love me a big bowl of half smashed beans over regular refried any day!
Isn’t it crazy how their brain works?
Glad to hear your health is better, Kristen. Happy Spring!
Thank you so much, Dani. Me too! And yes, happiest of springs to you! So glad it’s finally here!
Coming from someone who talks the college basketball talk like your husband and sons, this is a great post! I definitely chuckled several times when I realized I do some of the same things you mention here. And these beans look amazing!!
As one of three girls and a dad and husband who don’t watch sports, I am so clueless!!! It’s pretty sad. Say a prayer for my two sons. 😉 PS: These beens look divine. My mom makes cowboy beans from my childhood in Tucson and these sound similar!
So glad you are feeling better! when I first heard about march madness I thought it was baseball, oh well it’s amazing that your boys remember all those stats, and then again I bet it’s a little tough to see them growing so. Thanks for sharing!
I never understood guys ability to keep player stats memorized. It’s always been one of those things that’s baffled me BUT this dish certainly doesn’t! So good!!!
Your boys must be in heaven with all the March Madness and this recipe to keep the going! Looks perfect 🙂
When you get to the chili beans, try dark beer in them! It is delicious and I am not a beer drinker!Also add dark brown sugar.
Thanks for the bean dip recipe.
Boys are the best! I have 3 nephews and two brothers (not to mention a boyfriend who still loves to act like a boy haha), and I can’t get enough of them and their funny little quirks. I know they’d swipe up these beans in a heartbeat 🙂
I’m here to feed the men folk during sports season, which is pretty much all year long now with all of the sports my husband has taken a liking to. He is now counting down the days to opening day (baseball). If baseball or football aren’t on, he’ll resort to whatever sport is on. These beans look perfect for any game. Love! Pinned.
Everyone loves bean dip—-especially the tortilla chip companies! Ha! I have two sons, but neither one is a sports fan. But boy howdy they are dip and chip fans. Too easy of a recipe. Plus it’s not only easy to make, but it is easy to have the ingredients on hand all the time
for those spontaneous occasions.
We are bean eaters!! This would be a hit in our home.