Working Poor

Fat back is the best thing, with some salt and pepper. You can use bacon (some places you can get the "ends and pieces" packages, which work fine for this and are usually fine just to fry up and eat as well). I usually don't have anything but bacon bits, so I'll use that.

I also chop up some onion -- biggish size, not diced or minced -- and add that to the pot. Some like to add garlic, or chili powder (here's one recipe for pinto bean seasoning mix: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/condiments/pinto-bean-seasoning/ ), but I just like salt and pepper.

I can get about half a bag of beans in my crock pot, which is smaller than most you see today, and that's enough for the four of us. I make some rice to go with it, and it's great. And leftover beans can be mashed for refried beans (then you'd add the chili powder, garlic and whatever, like maybe some cilantro), or added to a batch of chili.