Ranch Beans in the Instant Pot

My daughter loves Ranch Beans - the ones in the can with the black label.  Also chili beans.  Seriously, she'd eat a whole can in one sitting if I'd let her.  I'm slowly trying to wean us off of food in metal cans, and I now have an Instant Pot which makes cooking dried beans a snap (have I mentioned I have more gadgets than kitchen space?), so I thought I'd hit the internet in search of an acceptable recipe.  I found several, and modified the most likely one to fit my daughter's taste and the ingredients I had in the house.

Instant Pot Ranch Beans
Adapted from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/123269/ranch-beans/

2 pounds dried pinto beans
2 cups tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
1 small head garlic (about six cloves), chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon ground oregano
2 dried bay leaves
water

Put all ingredients in the liner of the Instant Pot.  Add water to cover by two inches, and stir until combined.  Put on lid, making sure it's set to "sealing".  Set for 45 minutes on the manual setting.  When finished, let pressure release naturally.  Remove bay leaves before serving.

I made a batch of this today and it has gotten my daughter's seal of approval! 

Menu Plan October 2 - 8

We've been better and better about not eating out so much, and for the most part I've been keeping a menu plan on the white board on the fridge, but lately I can't think of a thing to put on it and I know I need to start writing it down in a more permanent location again!  So here I am...menu blogging...

Here's the plan for this week.

Sunday:  C and I will be out of town for the day for a birthday party, so likely we'll just grab something quick on the way home/

Monday:  Grilled sausages and frozen fries (piano lesson night = quick dinners on Mondays!)

Tuesday:  Chicken and quinoa soup (oh my this sounds delicious!)

Wednesday:  Out (I'm doing paint nite with some friends which means that hubby and C are on their own, which probably means Taco Bell!).

Thursday:  Jambalaya and green beans

Friday:  Pork chops and spinach balls 

Saturday:  There is something happening on Saturday.  I have no idea what - it hasn't found its way onto my calendar. But I know there is something happening!  I just have to figure out what it is and what it means for dinner plans...

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!