Until next yeat!

John Kuthe...

"John Kuthe" > wrote in message
...
> Until next yeat!
>
> John Kuthe...

I just used black beans from 2013. I couldn't believe it! I know I have
bought and used beans after that. Only thing I can figure is that they were
lurking in there somewhere that I didn't see. I also don't know how I
missed them when I cleaned that cupboard out last week. Found some old
pinto beans and I did toss those but it was a small amount and I have other
packages. This was my last package of black beans and it was obvious from
the packaging that it was old because Albertsons no longer carries that as
their store brand.

I was surprised that they still cooked up quicker than I expected. I
loosely followed Ree Drummond's recipe. Mainly just for the amount of liquid
and cook time. She said to add seasonings at 1.5 hours and that the beans
would not be fully done. But mine were!

Only problems were that I didn't have as much cumin as I needed and I didn't
add enough hot seasonings. I used up some pico de gallo, added three
jalapenos and extra chili powder. It had tasted fine while cooking but it
was particularly mild when I served it. I have some left for tomorrow so
will add a little jalapeno Tabasco to it. I'll be the only one eating it.
Husband complained that the crackers were horrible. I was like...
Crackers? I didn't give you any crackers! I did give him a big corn
muffin. And I added some strips of corn tortillas which he may have thought
were crackers. I told him they were to be pushed down into the soup. And I
put less in his bowl than mine since I wasn't having a muffin. I did put
too many in mine though and they sort of sucked up all of the broth. I only
have a few left so will be just enough for tomorrow's soup.

All of this quicker than it should be bean cooking is making me wonder just
how old those beans were that I used to cook as a child and young adult!? I
can remember cooking beans for hours. Now I always set the timer for 15
minutes before the package says because they almost always are done then.
Occasionally they are even overdone then! The pintos that I cooked prior
took about 5 minutes less. But I like to check them often because I prefer
my beans not to be mushy. Unless of course they are refried but even then,
I don't want overcooked.