Beans
Scott Mclean
Okay.
Tonight’s entry is brought to you by my supper.
Lilli went southern with black eyed peas cooked with salt pork, potatoes, carrots, chili peppers, and other seasonings. Yes, I put habanero hot sauce on top of that but that’s me. Don’t be a hater!
Country families like mine ate a lot of beans so there were usually ham hocks in the freezer. Yeah I know some of you think that explains a lot about me.
Mom made red beans, navy beans, or dried lima beans for the most part but split pea soup was also in the mix. After marrying Lilli, lentils were added to the list. I love a bowl of soup or beans in the winter.
Depending on the kind, we would have bread, cornbread, biscuits, or crescent rolls with them. Crescent rolls tonight.
Most of us remember the rhyme of beans, beans, the musical fruit. It was magical instead of musical at times. The day after the pot of beans was at times unpleasant to bystanders.
My Uncles Stan and Gale were wisely given a wide upwind berth at these times. Winter car trips where the windows had to be rolled down were also a problem.
Remember, I told you most men are eleven when it comes to flatulence.
I am known for homemade chili but make it hot. Lilli actually cooks it now and does a great job.
Years ago, I decided to make a four bean chili. The boys and I had been eating it all day and nature took it’s course. Lilli came home from work, took a few steps into the house, and fled, leaving the door open. She said no more 4 bean chili but has since made three bean herself. Maybe three is the limit.
I have been told that you can add baking soda to make beans less deadly. When this was mentioned to my Uncle Gale, he said it would take the fun out of it. Fun for him maybe!
Mom usually made red beans with fried potatoes and biscuits. Dad would have a biscuit or bread well buttered with his beans and potatoes.
He would have sliced onions on his beans, in his potatoes, and on his bread at times. Did I mention he liked onions?
I like Cajun style beans and rice as well.
Beans on a backpacking trip sometimes made your tent mate sleep outside!
The main point actually is that beans made a cheap but filling dinner for us country raised folks. I still like them, poor folks meal or not.
Enjoy some soon and happy tooting!