Date the Bean
You know that guy that likes to just wear sweatshirts and jeans. He reads the paper really slowly and generally has an easy smile but doesn’t say too much. Hates spending money. Pretty happy wherever he is, but doesn’t like being rushed. Has a lot to offer but is often overlooked because he seems like..you know…like just joe or homer or whoever. Oh him. And you’re not sure you’d like to be married to him because it might get kind of boring after awhile. Or so you assume. And you’ve heard that he might have a bad habit or two but still you’re kind of turned on by his simplicity.
For me, that’s the bean. The unsung hero of the whole foods world who’s often overshadowed by flashy pomegranates, sexy avocados, trendy farro and exotic spices with lounge-singer names like Saffron and Coriander. Take another look. You want low cost? Versatility? How about “enriches the soil its grown in”? The bean’s got it. Or are you dazzled by factoids like: low in calories, high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals? Research that links consumption to lower risk of some diseases? Beans are your guy. Oh wait. Maybe you’re shy about mentioning the farting thing. I’m telling you, if you’re getting gas from your beans you haven’t been treating them right. Like forgetting to let them have a long soak. Trying to rush them while they’re cooking. Eating them out of cans. Don’t do it. They appreciate hands-on cooking with TLC. Ya gotta let them take their time. Throw Cumin or Kombu or whoever in the pot with them to keep ‘em grinning. Add a little salt toward the end, maybe a little vinegar or salsa (to aid the digestion) and you’ve got a real fun cheap date.
Tags: beans, Cookus Interruptus, whole foods
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How funny! I thought it was going to be about dating the bean as in writing the date on the bag! I guess we should do that sort of dating too. Don’t want to neglect our bean friends!
Comment by Jessica — February 18, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
Oh, how I love beans. I’ve never met a bean I didn’t want to marry. My poor mom, however, has every food sensitivity know to human kind. She just made a return to beans, but has started sprouting them first. She says it makes all the difference, and she doesn’t feel bloated for days after she eats them. I haven’t tried it yet, because I’m too lazy.
And speaking of lazy, I have a request. I’m trying to do more hot breakfasts, but I don’t always have leftover grains or beans. I loved some of the ideas in Mark Bittman’s blog Bitten, yesterday, but they all seem to take more than 1/2 hour. I have little kids, and I’m too lazy to get up an hour early to make breakfast. Do you have any ideas for quicker things?
Comment by sarah k. — February 19, 2009 @ 5:56 am
Hi Sarah,
When my daughter was young we put a simple pot of grains on the stove right after getting up - oatmeal, steel cut oats, millet, rice cream, kasha cream. Only took 5 minutes. We’d put it on low and then stick a fame tamer underneath the pan and shower, dress, whatever. A half hour later hot breakfast was ready. Throw some yogurts, maple syrup, apples, raisins, bananas or whatever you like on top and you have a happening breakfast. You can also soak grains overnight and they cook very quickly in the morning.
My current favorite is to stir fry some leftover brown rice and throw a fried or poached agg on top. Ten minutes tops. The trick is to simmer a pot of rice for dinner or while you’re making dinner. Then it’s ready for service.
Comment by Cynthia Lair — February 19, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Hi Cynthia,
We love beans. Well, all of us except my 4 year old daughter. We’ve stuck to your advice to always serve one thing she’ll eat, so we always have a whole grain, some nuts, plain yogurt, or fruit on the table. We hoped she’d eventually branch out, but she hasn’t. She won’t try new things and so she still isn’t eating beans or vegetables (which is almost always what our dinner is made of). Suggestions?
Beth
Comment by Beth M. — February 19, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Dear Beth,
If I may add my 2 cents: I have a 4 and a 6 year old daughter, and have similar issues. Mine do eat a fare assortment of veggies, but beans are definitely not popular. What does work is some lentils in a creamy soup or pasta sauce. For veggies, have you tried large chunks of those that you can eat raw, like carrot, cucumber, bell peppers? My kids do like to eat that - also because I already put a bowl on the table half an hour before dinner, when they start to get hungry ;-). For the veggies that they don’t like (yet), I make them try one bite every time I serve it, so they will get used to the taste.
Comment by Aletta Karsies van Eeden — March 5, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
Beth and Aletta,
Thanks for your comments. I agree with Beth - those creamy soups and bean spreads (like hummus) are a great way to get young ones into beans. You might also try a big bowling of steamed edamame - kids love opening up the pods.
Cynthia
Comment by admin — March 10, 2009 @ 9:38 am