Monday, February 9, 2009

Monday Menu . . .

Today's dinner menu is beans & cornbread!
This is one of our favorite comfort food meals
no matter the season. If you haven't learned to
like beans yet remember, it's all in the seasoning.
Try spicing it up a little with a can of Rotel like I do sometimes.

I always soak the beans over night.
The next morning I drain & rinse the beans again.
After I cover the beans with water
I add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, & 2 teaspoons garlic powder.
After the beans have cooked for about 5 hours do a little taste test.
Add more seasoning to suit your taste.
I cook the beans on high for 8 hours in the crock pot.

Beans wouldn't be complete without
homemade cornbread baked in
my Mother's cast iron skillet.
We like to add hot sauce & onions to our beans before
we take the first delicious bite!
I found some info on the internet about
why beans are so good for you!

They are:
~ Low in Fat ~
· Only about 4% of the calories in legumes come from fat calories (except soybeans and chick peas). The new food guides suggest we choose lower fat food more often.


~ High in Vegetable Protein ~
· Research is showing that plant protein helps protect the heart by lowering blood cholesterol levels in people with elevated cholesterol levels.
· Beans, combined with grains, seeds or nuts are a prime source of protein in many countries and have been for centuries.


~ High in Fiber ~
· Beans provide lots of fiber which reduces LDL (the bad cholesterol). And that can help to combat heart disease.
· Dietary fiber helps to enhance the health of the large intestine.


~ Loaded With Complex Carbohydrates ~
· Complex carbohydrates are the body’s best source of energy and should supply half our daily energy needs.
· Foods rich in carbohydrates are thought to increase metabolism and speed the burning of calories.


~ Rich in Minerals and Vitamins ~
· Vitamins
· Contains the B vitamins except B12. An excellent source of folic acid which is important to pregnant women by helping prevent neural birth defects such as spina bifida. It may also have benefits in preventing heart disease.
· Minerals
· High in potassium, a good source of phosphorus, magnesium and iron
· A source of zinc

Well, I've probably told you more about beans than you ever wanted to know, but isn't it nice to know that something that tastes so good is also good for you?


16 comments:

bj said...

This is a pretty cool post because I just took a zip lock bag of beans out of the freezer last night so we could have them for dinner tonight...along with our corn bread,ALWAYS cooked in my heavy cast iron skillet. I always make enuf beans to go in our freezer for another time and they taste just like fresh, when thrawed and heated..especially with a hugh slice of buttered cornbread and a big piece of red onion... yummy.
Thanks for the info on beans, too..

Shelley said...

I'm trying to eat Beans more.....
Cornbread always sounds great!

Nonnas News said...

I love beans and homemade cornbread! I always make my cornbread in my cast iron skillet, its so much better! You have made me hungry for some beans and cornbread!

Patsy said...

The taste, it is the taste, I like your recipes. And all of the great info. Have we got labor pains yet?
patsy

Stacey said...

One of our very favorite meals for sure!!

Anonymous said...

I love beans and like you say they are really good for you. I hope you have a great day :>)

Anonymous said...

This is one of my favorite meals too. I always put a can of rotel in my beans. It just gives them a little something.

Elena said...

Thank you for sharing all the info. My husband and I love beans too. Our favorite is butter beans soaked all night, then I cook them in the crock pot with chicken broth, onion soup mix, 1/2 onion chopped and I brown a country style pork rib, cut it up and put it in there too. Yummmm!

Mary said...

Think I will follow suit and put a pot on for our dinner tonight too. Sure wish I could make hot rolls and sweet rolls like mom did! Hope I have a bag in the pantry! Ha
Love you
Mary

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Good afternoon Carol.. my hubby makes these all the time..one of his favorite meals. Thanks for the visit today..I always love when you stop by..you're so uplifting with your comments..hugs ~lynne~

Bo said...

Hi Carol...Hon, I do believe you are talking about the CAVIAR of the South...heehee! I could eat this every single day! ;-) Bo

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

This is also one of my favorite comfort meals. You made me so hungry. Wish I had soaked some beans last night. After seeing your post, I'm sure I'll be doing it some time this week. laurie

Christine said...

We eat a lot of beans here especially black beans. our pan fried cornbread sounds yummy...so you bake the corn bread in the cast iron skillet?

valerie said...

I love beans and cornbread!
My mom used to make beans, cornbread and fried potatoes for one meal and then we'd have smashed up bean tacos with the leftovers.
I'm so glad that's one thing I love that's actually good for me. ;)

Barb said...

Carol, it all sounds so yummy. Just delicious.

Thanks for visiting me at Bella Vista...that was so sweet of you.

Hugs!

Miss Janice said...

Love the beans with rotel...and cornbread also!