beans - help!

My bean of choice is black beans. I buy the Mrs. Grimes no salt added kind. I eat them plain right from the can. I do rinse them of course!! I put them in omelets, salads, I mashed some up the other day with a little avocado and made a paste spread for my turkey tortilla wrap. I even eat them plain and cold.

I also like lima beans too, but generally only eat those when I buy the frozen mixed bag veggies. I also of course like chili and kidney beans, in chili.

You can do a variety of things with beans, from eating them plain and cold to making soups with them or using them in things like lasagna.

Now for something as simple as green beans, you can steam or sautee them. I don't used canned though, fresh or frozen only. Add a little pepper or whatever spice you like and cook them up.

I buy good old fashioned Rach Style Beans with jalapenoes. Have some to eat at lunch today with my chicken. They come in a can so you just heat them up. I put some Louisiana Hot Sauce on them to make them extra spicy. But I also like black beans, and kidney beans. I even eat some baked beans but not as much as they usually have a lot more sugar in them. Maybe just try some of the canned kinds to see what you like. They are probably all less than a buck a can.

If you really don't want to know you are eating them, puree them and put them into soups, stews and chilli, turkey burgers and meatloaf.

I love black beans with a little salsa, fat free sour cream and (if i have the calories/fat) a little shredded cheese. yummy! You might also try lentils - I LOVE lentil soup, but usually buy canned because I have had trouble making it tasty from scratch.

I buy all of my beans dry. It's cheaper, soaking them is easy, and there's no added salt.
My husband even freezes them after he soaks / boils them when he's not going to use them right away.

Easiest way to cook them is in the slow cooker or crock pot. Just put the beans in, fill with water, let it cook on low until the beans are soft and edible. This usually takes 8-10 hours. Just set up the crock pot then come home.

You can store the cooked beans (drain off liquid) in tupperware after they cook and use as side dishes or meals, in tacos, on salads, mixed with corn and cilantro and tomato for salsa, whatever you want.

One of my favorites is soft shell tacos. I use black beans and just heat them up in the microwave for a minute but you can eat them cold if you want. I also like to use the high fiber whole wheat flour tortillas. I put the tortilla on a paper plate and heat that up for 25 seconds. and then I just fix them like a regular taco with lettuce cheese tomatoes, taco sauce and you can add onions if you want or black olives or anything you like. . I just measure everything out so I know how much I am eating. Delicious!

I also like red kidney beans or garbanzo beans on salad. I just rinse them and use them right out of the can. Then I add all of my favorites to my salad like black olives, cucumbers, radishes, baby carrots, fresh mushrooms, baby tomatoes, red onion, and for some protein. cheese, and turkey breast lunch meat (or go get it in the deli) Then for dressing I really like the Light Paul Newman Balsamic dressing, Low calorie and really good.

Hope that helps!

Black beans are my favorite! I'll eat them in salads, soups, on nachos, etc...

I like to make black bean tacos. Heat up some (rinsed) beans and season with taco seasoning. Then make tacos with the beans instead of (or in addition to) the meat! Seriously so good, I have to say I like black bean tacos even better than regular ground beef tacos!

I'm big on rice and beans so anytime I'm eating rice, I just put a can of drained and washed can of black beans in it with some tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and you got yourself some nice rice with beans.

Also, you can always go the route of lentil soups too