Looks like the invite is working now, so thanks for setting it to not expire. I’m in Wisconsin and mostly lurk, but I’d be glad to pop in and see what channels are active before committing to much. Is there a good place to start for someone new, or do people mainly just jump into the general chat? Also, roughly how busy is it on weeknights?

The Sazon Culantro y Achiote tip is what makes that recipe work, and it’s not just a Texas item — the Hispanic foods aisle here in Madison carries it too, so worth checking before assuming you’d need to order it. Skipping added salt is smart advice as well, since a ham bone gives up plenty on its own. @thinice, even a small amount of diced ham in the beans would add flavor without committing anyone to a plate of it.