Sauté bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble the bacon. Drain and wipe bacon fat from pan.
Sauté onion, peppers and garlic in olive oil until soft and translucent. Add cilantro, taco seasoning and black beans, mashing lightly with a fork (not necessary if you'll be using a stick blender later on) until beans are the desired consistency.
Taste and adjust seasonings; salt, pepper, ground cumin, cayenne, garlic and onion powder, hot salt, and hot pepper sauce may be stirred in for additional heat and taste, as you like it.
This can be processed lightly with a stick blender if you prefer a smoother result. We leave half of the mixture unprocessed to keep an interesting texture.
Top with a few sprigs of cilantro or curled green onions and a scoop of sour cream or salsa and serve with tacos or chips.
Submitted by: CM
