30 Frugal, Nutrient-packed Recipes for Every Eater

I’m always looking for ways to stretch my grocery dollar and regularly rotate my food storage. Use it or lose it, you know! I have dried beans in my long term food storage, but to be honest, I don’t usually take the time to prep them ahead of time. So when I had the chance to read the book “Everything Beans, 30 Frugal Nutrient-Packed Recipes for Every Eater” by Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship, I jumped at the chance.

I like Katie’s writing style on her website and expected that this would translate into her books. I was right! In “Everything Beans”, Katie gives us a thorough overview of the benefits of beans, even addressing the arguments against beans and how to overcome (and even hide) them.

I printed the 95-page book and placed it in a three ring binder like she suggested. There is extra margin space for making notes and recipe modifications.

These 30 recipes cover everything from:

• Wraps and sandwiches
• Soups
• Side dishes
• Pasta
• Main dish meals
• Desserts

How to soak and cook dried beans

Thanks to Katie I’ve learned about the benefits of soaking dry beans before cooking them, which is different from the recommended cooking requirements found in a bag of beans in the grocery store.  She calls it Nourishing Soak, Normal Soak, and Quick Soak. There really is no quick way to use dried beans and Katie gives tips and tricks for planning ahead so you will always have beans on hand – ready to go.

“The purpose of The Everything Beans Book is to take away the mystery and fear that sometimes comes with dry beans” Katie Kimball

Sprouting is also an option with all kinds of legumes and doing so will increase their health benefits immensely. Katie’s directions are very thorough and you’ll be a bean pro in no time.

Every recipe has easy to follow directions for chefs at every level. Not only will you find a list of ingredients and the best methods for cooking, but each recipe also has substitution ideas, frugal tips, and frequently asked questions. There are also special diet notes for gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher eaters, as well as links to other recipes on her website.

One of my favorite features in the book is the rating system for the recipes. At a glance you can tell:

• How work intensive it will be – 1 = simple, 2= mid range, 3=more complicated
• The kid-friendly quotient – 1 check: not so much; to 3 checks: any kid will eat it
• The cost rating – $ super budget meal, $$ mid-range, $$$ pricier (as far as beans go).

Diving right in, I make a chili recipe and converted it to a crockpot recipe. Even with the soak, it was pretty simple.

Cheesy White Chicken Chili, page 45

I did a quick soak on the dry white beans– measure, look for stones, rinse and boil for one minute.  Cover and let it sit for one hour. Turn the crock-pot to high.

4 cups of soaked white beans
1 can of spicy, diced tomatoes with the liquid
1 medium onion
1 red pepper
1 tablespoon diced garlic
½ teaspoon each – cumin, chili powder, oregano, and salt
1 large boneless chicken breast, cooked and shredded (because that’s what I had – you can brown chicken chunks and use those instead)
3 cups chicken stock

Place it all in the crockpot, on high, for 8 hours. Add cheese when finished.

Yum! It’s a hit. We’re big into spicy dishes at our house and Katie’s recipes are full of flavor.

The Everything Beans Book has given me the inspiration to bring out my dried bean food storage and start cooking it up. Today I’ve got a pot cooking so I can freeze them, 2 cups at a time. Now my family can have beans when we want, without having to open a can.

The Verdict: The Everything Beans Book is a fabulous addition to my food storage planning. I can’t wait to try more recipes! Do you think my family’s going to get sick of beans? Not if I make them Grain-Free Fudgy Brownies for dessert!

Buy The Everything Beans Book TODAY by clicking on the link below.

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