Dinner for $2.99
Since I generally buy canned beans, or beans in bulk, I hadn’t spent much time on the bean aisle. But on my last shopping trip, I noticed this gorgeous little bag of mixed beans for $2.99!
An entire meal for three bucks. And it included a seasoning packet.
With so much trouble cooking beans from dry, I stopped reading the directions, I have adopted my own method.
- Pour beans into large pot in the morning.
- Boil for 15 minutes
- Remove from heat.
- Cover with lid until ready to prepare dinner.
- At about 4:00, I rinse the beans.
- Refill with water.
- Boil until beans are tender.
- Depending on the type of beans, this may take 2 hours!! I like my beans soft.
- Keep testing beans till desired softness.
I was a bit disappointed with the seasoning. There wasn’t much flavor to it at all. Next time I will season it myself. But with a handful of saltine crackers, my family at it up!
I got an A on my last Organic Chemistry test! I can’t tell you what a relief it was. I was getting worried about this whole back to school thing, but now I’m feeling much more confident!
Posted: September 21st, 2009 under Dinner, Proteins.
Tags: Beans, Dinner, idea, kids, menu, plan, seasonings, soup
Comments
Comment from Susan
Time September 21, 2009 at 8:26 am
Congratulations on that A. I knew you had it in you!
Comment from cathy
Time September 21, 2009 at 9:08 am
My mother-in-law makes soup like this all of the time. She adds a ham bone for extra flavor. I still have bean issues, but I really should give this a try again. And dried beans – so cheap! You have to put a little forethought into it since it takes so long for them to soften, but you can’t beat the price – and the sodium content.
How did I miss that you’re back in school? I loved, loved organic chemistry back in the day. With the right teacher, it’s an absolutely fascinating subject. Congrats on the A!
Comment from Selvi
Time September 21, 2009 at 11:11 am
Congrats on the ‘A’… For cooking beans you could try using a pressure cooker. Its much faster for these bean types.
Comment from Jackie
Time September 21, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Kudos on the A!!! And in Organic Chem. That’s not easy. Way to go.
Comment from Meredith
Time September 22, 2009 at 8:30 am
you need to buy these beans again and make them into a soup! i have a wonderful recipe that i just love with that dry bean mix!
Comment from Amy
Time September 22, 2009 at 8:46 am
I do have a great Org. Chemistry teacher. But you have the mind for science! Me, not so much. I’m only in school for a few pre-requisites (all Chemistry!!) to apply for a graduate program in nutrition. I hope to be an RD when I’m done. My baby just started 1st grade, so it’s time for me to do something!
Merdith- Please send your recipe!!
Comment from Mychael-Ann
Time September 24, 2009 at 10:23 am
This has nothing to do with beans (although I have had a bag of those beans in my pantry forever – I think I even moved them cross country! Maybe it’s time to cook them).
I am overloaded with squash and I’ve read that you use it pureed in sauces – what kind of sauces?
Thanks for the great ideas!
Pingback from Multi-Bean Soup | Healthy Food Ideas for Super Healthy Kids
Time October 8, 2009 at 3:55 am
[...] Soup When I tried to make this bean soup a few weeks ago, I mentioned it was lacking in the flavor department. That is when Meredith [...]
Comment from Kristin Norby
Time September 21, 2009 at 7:59 am
Wahoo an A! I’m so proud.