Beans!

Thank you to those who read or commented on my rambling and rather depressing post about how lonely it can be in the ministry.  I hadn't intended to write a second post yesterday, but then late last night I was just not feeling well, and out it came.

And now for something significantly more cheerful!

I know, I know, everyone is talking about whole foods this and paleo that and blah blah blah.  I'm not going to talk about that sort of thing because I have very little idea of what I'm talking about compared to many others.  In fact, if you're curious about it, there is an amazing Christian blog, Keeper of the Home, and it handles just about every issue you could imagine and answers any question you could think of asking.

But what I know how to do is feed a family of four a healthy, high protein diet with lots of vitamin and mineral rich foods on a small budget.

Today I'm preparing my beans on the counter.  Actually, it's day two of bean prep!  Beans, lentils and the like are an important part of our meals and I have a four-day system to prepare them.  Now, some people can get away with using canned beans without any gastric side-effects, and that's great, but even if that's you I would suggest finding a good way to prepare dried beans simply to save on money.  If a can of beans has two cups worth in it, but costs $1, whereas you can get close to twenty cups of rehydrated beans from a 2kg bag of dried beans, and that will only cost you $6.  Well, then that's a savings of $4!

Alright, now for a recipe!  I never liked beans, or really legumes at all, and this recipe is one I made up myself and was one of the first ways I ever enjoyed eating them.

Amy's Bacon Baked Beans

2 cups of dried beans
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1 Tbsp ketchup
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or another flavoured vinegar)
2 bay leaves
1 clove garlic, pierced and peeled
1 onion, quartered
1/2 lb. chopped bacon
1.5 cups water

Now let me explain this recipe - it's approximate.  And it's mostly made up of flavourings.  So what you're going to have to do is use it as a guideline of sorts.  Saute your bacon and your onion.  Your beans will already be rehydrated, so add them in now.  Make a mixture of the various condiments and add those, and then pour over the water.  Simmer away until your beans are cooked.

You may need more water.  You may need more time than you think.  Try not to overcook them since your beans will get all mushy, and likewise if you are using canned beans you'll need much less time.


This post was linked to Your Green Resource.