pinto beans veggie meal...in a slow cooker...with meat accompanient

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

argh, invited friends round for dinner tomorrow night, out all day, out this eve but thought I could slow cooker something this eve that can then let flavours seep in during the day tomorrow then heat up for eve.

I have some presoaked pinto beans that need eating, I'm a veggie but everyone else eats meat - anyone got a good chilli/bolognaise recipe for slow cooker....will prob do with pasta rather than rice as 5 children coming, 3 of which don't eat rice.

Should I do a veggie pinto bean dish and if so what meat on the side for everyone else, or shall I just make a meat dish and put aside some beans to make my own chilli...or just do a big veggie bolognaise? My children don't really eat meat anyway, the others aren't massively bothered, but one of my friends is bringing her icelandic mum who might not be impressed with veggie food.

thoughts?

I would just do a big veggie chilli using up your pinto beans and lots of colourful veg. Serve plenty of rice/pasta/bread etc, maybe some cheese to sprinkle on the top. Anyone who turns up their nose would be rude.

I don't have a slow cooker but I make veggie chilli by softening up a selection of chopped peppers, onion, courgette and carrot, adding passata and flavouring with fresh chilli, smoked paprika, a little sugar etc.

thanks Cogito

Have done the veggie chilli with pinot beans, red and yellow peppers and carrots, with lime and coriander rice, grated cheese, bowl of jalepenos, bowl of olives, more coriander, cheese quesadillas for DC that will inevitably turn their noses up at chilli, and chilli and garlic roasted mini squash.

Gin and tonic, red wine poured

One friend bringing guacamole and crisps, the other doing desert

ooooh smoked paprika....will add that in now...

Sounds like a feast! Tasty, colourful and creative. BTW.... one of the most popular dishes in Iceland hakarl is essentially rotten fish... ... so if there was any nose-turning from your visitor (which I'm sure there wasn't) , just keep that culinary nugget at the back of your mind.