The neighbor's hill is quite a walk for a three year old, but I watched Natalie toddle home all by herself. Impressed that she had the fortitude to make it home on her own, but simultaneously saddened by her immerging independence, I opened the door and got the whole story."Anna's being inappropriate! "
"She's fussing about the sled."
Oh. What to do? There was a day when I would have expounded great wisdom on the virtue and necessity of not tattling. Perhaps I still should, but today I grabbed the camera instead.
"Be sure to share, and have fun!"
We are enjoying the mild temperatures and doing our best to get outside for fresh air each day. At least the children are outside!
Big brother Caleb has been busy at work building tunnels for the little girls. Isn't it the sweetest when they play so nicely together, and no one is fussing?
Here's a question...I soaked Great Northern beans overnight, then cooked them in chili for several hours. They were still hard. Today, the chili went into the crock pot for another six hours, and they are still hard. I'm not a fan of hard beans, though I thought the taste of the chili was good, so what should I do? I have enough for another meal, but no one is excited to see it served again. Any ideas?
18 comments:
No answers to the question. I dislike when this has happend to me. Ya know Ketchup always makes food as this better hehe. I find it to help if I boil them first. Love the story of your sweet little one. Kathy I wanted you to know I carry you on my heart and think you and your family are just wonderful. Something we try to be more like as we go. Thank you for sharing your family with us... Blessings Catherine
I did a little hunting around for you. According to one website I found, "Pour a little apple-cider, brown-rice, or white-wine vinegar into the water in the last stages of cooking your beans/legumes. Vinegar helps to soften them and breaks down protein chains and indigestible compounds." Also, here are two sites that discuss (1) how to soak and cook beans, and (2) a bean cooking chart.
http://www.vegancoach.com/how-to-cook-beans.html
http://weblife.org/beanchart.html
I have a friend who told me one time how to make pinto beans from scratch. All this "bean talk" has made me want to try it.
Hope this helps some,
Liz in CA
What sweet pictures. They could have been taken in our back yard. Our long line of little snowmen are slowly getting smaller and smaller :-)
As for beans, I always pressure cook mine. It takes a little over an hour to go from rock hard dry beans to soft yummy beans. We bought our pressure cooker at Wal-mart for about $25 and it's been wonderful for us ever since.
What a blessing to have such wonderful days~ Thanks for sharing them with us~
Hgus ~Cinnamon
Hard beans make for poor digestion - I say give it to the animals! ha! I hate when beans don't do what they're supposed to do. Ugh.
Oh those pictures of your little Natalie are adorable!
Good Morning momma!
Those pictures are just too cute...
I just wanted to tell you that I love you and your the bestest momma in the whole world...
Love You,
Josh
Kathy, I would put them back in a pot let the beans cook until soft enough to mash with a potato masher. The chili will also reduce down. Then I would layer in a baking dish flour or corn tortillas, reduced chili, cheese, repeat finishing with a layer of cheese on top. Put in the oven at 350 and bake uncovered until heated thru and cheese is slightly brown and bubbly. Take out of the oven and top with sour cream, lettuce, fresh tomato. It might just save these leftovers. Sheri
Sorry Momma, but I agree with Aunt Lynnette...it would be a great treat for the chickens;)
Love,
Jenna
p.s. The taste WAS good.
Thanks for the great ideas...I think (at the risk of more waste) I'll try to bake them with tortillas! Next time...vinegar!
Have you tried to mash them and refry them for refried beans served with tortillas? If that does not work~I agree with Lynnette~give them to the animals. I think I will make beans today~lol
Have a great day friend!
Carrie
That second picture is awesome! =)
Oh, and re: the beans, why don't you send them over here? LOL.
Anyways, TTYAL, and God bless!
cute pics!! and my mom has the same problem sometimes with no success yet... i found your blog through Josh and Jenna's blogs... and i agree with them it probably did taste good even if they were hard :)
Sorry about the beans...like you I try to stretch food as far as possible. But like Lynnette, I think they might be best for the piggies now. After taking a look around your blog-so glad Lynnette sent me over-I think you must be living on what I call heaven on earth. Praying GOD blesses you beyond measure today.
Kathy, I also have been meaning to tell you... I have an Anna too. Sunshine girl is my Anna. I thought this was neat. Blessings Catherine Anne
Hi again - I just wanted to let you know that I have awarded you on my blog! the link is : http://bit.ly/7JWqGc. I would like to thank you too for encouraging me!! this blog (with many others) are totally encouraging and helpful as I walk with the LORD.
Thanks!!! and i hope you like your award... :)
Oh I forgot to add.....come for that extended visit! :-)
~Cinnamon
Hello...my name is Elizabeth...my friend Catherine introduced me to your blog. She has great things to say about you and your family. Nice to "meet" you:) I made some black-eyed peas for New Year's Day and I soaked them for about 8 hours overnight then brought them to a boil for a few minutes, then simmered them until supper...they too were still hard. We didn't get to eat them that day. I put them in the crockpot overnight and finally they softened up. I don't know why this happens. Anyway, I have to go...you have a beautiful family! Have a blessed day.
Elizabeth
No advice about the hard beans...I'm going to be reading through what your readers have advised, myself.
So cool that your older kids leave such sweet comments for you. :-)
LOVE the new header pic.
Blessings from Ohio...Kim W<><
Good Afternoon Kathy~
Thanks for visiting me today.
That creamer of mine is 1 point for 2 Tablespoons~if I drink it I have to count it. Today I had Raspberry Tea.
I THINK I CAN~I THINK I CAN~I THINK I CAN~
Have a good evening!
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