Beans, beans, beans
@GardenGerty (160883)
United States
March 22, 2019 10:54pm CST
So many people dislike beans. I seem to like them all, in one form or another.
I had open bags of black beans, dark red kidney beans and pintos so I threw them all together in a large crock pot. I cooked them until tender, but only seasoned them with a little salt.
Half that pot of beans went into chili today. Another portion I am going to turn into a bean salad. I rinsed them and drained them. It will have onion and garlic and olives and whatever else I can think of. It will have a vinaigrette dressing.
The final portion is going to be like hummus or refries. I will use the stick blender and blend them up. I will add seasonings and some olive oil to make them into a consistency I can spread on crackers or dip with chips.
Hubby and I eat what we like, but we try to like healthy a large portion of the time. Most days we eat oatmeal, it is good for his ulcer and good for my cholesterol. Beans are a good source of protein, and also are good for your heart. I cook some kind of beans every week.
Both of those filling foods are inexpensive and we season them up nicely. It is never boring. When summer comes we will likely have more cold, hearty salads and eat homemade granola instead of oats.
I really want to add more vegetables as well.
33 people like this
40 responses
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
Hubby really likes butter beans and so do I . I have even blended them up into a bean dip before. Beans are a great add in for salads.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
@noni1959 That sounds very good. I can see them in my mind with the ground turkey.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (10104)
• United States
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty That's a great idea to make into dip. I have them with ground turkey or sometimes ham.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
Yes, the seasonings in chili beans are awesome. I know you cook good and healthy Judy, and John I am sure you have some wonderful types of chili beans around where you are.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
23 Mar 19
I enjoy a Good bean from time to time. Never learned how to cook them to where they are soft enough though unfortunately. But there is nothing wrong with a Good bowl of homemade chili or soup, etc using beans.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty We will have to remember this and try it. I am really wanting some Beans and ham or trying Chili might be interesting as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
My best instructions on getting the beans tender came from my first husband's grandmother. After rinsing and picking through her beans, she would put them in a pan and boil them fifteen minutes. When they cooled, she rinsed them again and cooked them on low heat until tender. She did not add salt until they were tender. I do this, and after the boil, I put them in my crock pot, they are soft in about four hours. Before she told me this I would put them in the crockpot un boiled and it would take all night to get them tender.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (181942)
• United States
23 Mar 19
I love beans and they are very good for you.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
@snowy22315 do you have any special way you like to cook them?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
They are inexpensive also.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Mar 19
@JohnRoberts They were last night 
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
@wolfgirl569 And today and tomorrow!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
Your critters are full of beans!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
I was pleasantly surprised when I found that my kids liked beans. I always made pintos and cornbread for the family as it was a tradition from my first husband's growing up days.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
There are countless ways to prepare beans.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
23 Mar 19
The bean mixture sounds great!
I like beans but I don't use them often enough. I'm not sure I like all kind of beans, the baked beans you get for breakfast in the UK are one of the few things I'll leave on my plate. I'm not quite sure it's the beans though, it could also be the bland, weird tomato sauce they come in.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
I do not quite think of them for breakfast. i used my husband's family recipe for baked beans once and had way too many. A friend online here who lived in the UK said to eat them with toast points and they were pretty good.
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
@Torunn I am sure hubby's family recipe for baked beans is more flavorful. It has a couple of kinds of sausage in it.
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty I'known both English and French who ate them on toasted bread. I like toasted bread, I like tomatoes and I like beans, but there's something with the combination. And I like spice, so I often chili beans or something similar to use in pizzas etc
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
@JohnRoberts I need to give you a Golden Bean Award, you have really enjoyed commenting here.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
Refried beans are good for burritos.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
When my great niece lived with me her favorite snack was to have a tortilla spread with refries, rolled around a cheese stick and microwaved.
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
23 Mar 19
I must be very, very careful eating beans. I have no problems with hummus, but I must limit the intake of beans because they interfere with nutrient absorption, they irritate my gut, and cause digestive issues. I can only eat lentils, chickpeas and peas.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
You have some sensitivity, I see. I know one time the Red Cross found my iron to be a little low and they said it could be from eating too many beans. Chick peas make very good meals, and I have really enjoyed split peas a lot this winter as we received some of them.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty I am anemic since I was a kid, this is another reason why I must not eat beans. I peel the garbanzo beans before preparing hummus, so they have less fibers.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
27 Mar 19
They are supposed to be good for you. It does add variety to your meals.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50580)
• United States
27 Mar 19
@GardenGerty I could eat them every day.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
So, @JudyEv what is the staple for Australia? I learned from hubby that Finlanders like potatoes, and I had never thought of that. They grow lots of potatoes. I guess I imagined that Australia would be a good climate to grow beans.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar 19
@JohnRoberts Yes, we have Mexican restaurants and they are very popular. I'm not sure how many cook beans at home.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
There are no Mexican food places down under?
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
23 Mar 19
I like beans and they are inexpensive. Homemade granola is my go-to breakfast (I can't stand hot oatmeal).
We eat a lot of veggies but that gets expensive.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
There are other hot cereals I like better than oats, but hubby started wanting them when he was treating his ulcer. I jazz them up with spices, dried fruit, or even canned pumpkin or peanut butter. I never use the packets but start with old fashioned long cooking oats. I cook them in the microwave, though and they are not slimy and mushy. I have stores that mark down veggies and I will buy at those clearance tables if I have time to prepare them so I do not waste them. I also buy bags of frozen vegetables at $10 for 10. to save money.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
@SophiaMorros Actually you are investing in your family's health when you indulge this way.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty I'm not really fond of any hot cereals but the rest of my family doesn't mind the stuff so I regularly make a batch of hot oatmeal loaded up with cinnamon and raisins (and ALWAYS made from scratch).
I do some frozen veggies but those are usually used in soups. My kids prefer their veggies roasted so we've been eating a lot of oven roasted broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts (and carrots, carrots are pretty inexpensive). Financially, we're in a better situation than we were a few years back so we can indulge a little.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
23 Mar 19
I love beans, particularly white beans cooked in tomato sauce.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
Do you add any special seasonings to that?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
@florelway Sounds yummy. I have heard white pepper is a little spicier than the black pepper.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty only white pepper and some laurel leaves. It goes well with grilled beef ribs.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
@Nevena83 Were they cooked any special way?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Mar 19
You are full of beans today!
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
6 Jun 19
I like beans, too as well as split peas and lentils. Since it's just me, I sometimes cook up a pot and eat what I want, then put the rest in the freezer in meal size portions.
I really like bean soup, with mixed beans, celery, carrots and onions, then ham seasoning (mine is fake since I can't eat pork).
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
7 Jun 19
@GardenGerty It's really nice to have them in the freezer for when you want them.
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
7 Jun 19
You peeked in my freezer. We just had a couple of days of split pea soup. I make it really thick. There is a gallon zip lock almost full. I flattened it to freeze then I can stack it with other things.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137552)
• India
23 Mar 19
It's ages since I have eaten red kidney beans. They are packed with goodness.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
Yes, they are. Do you eat a lot of lentils?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
They can add a lot of variety to your meals.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117130)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Mar 19
We eat beans like you do. Tony asked for butter beans, just beans! for dinner first night back home, I had chili with red beans, so yes, I love them to. I have them home canned and frozen in meals, if its not dry beans its green beans or sweet peas.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
24 Mar 19
I have been having a lot of split peas soup and it is so good if it is homemade. I need to get a canner and learn to do some canning and not just freezing. This particular batch of chili had some venison in it. My sister has a neighbor who thinks he may move so he gave her all his excess food. I do not know why she did not keep the ground venison, but I sure appreciated it along with my burger in my chili.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
@andriaperry I know you had mentioned that. I listened. I just have been a tad busy to take on the learning just yet. That is just like when we moved in the kid who moved out said he liked having a gas stove here as he could still cook during a power outage.
@andriaperry (117130)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Mar 19
@GardenGerty Seems like the power goes out and ruins all my food the last few years, that is why I am canning. My new project will be a place that is cool to store my canned foods.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35716)
•
24 Mar 19
Your just a crazy "bean eater." Beans are a great source of protein and a compliment to many foods.
Beans are a great source of protein and a compliment to many foods.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
Ah, yes, and these look like coffee beans. I should have mentioned coffee beans, chocolate beans and vanilla beans.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
25 Mar 19
People have different remedies for the gas from beans. I find if I put something acidic in them it really reduces the gas. I also think pre soaking or par boiling them helps.
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