Frijoles

January 14, 2009

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Frijoles, found in every home in the lovely land of Mexico. Served with every meal, including breakfast, in a typical Mexican home. These are pinto beans, what is eaten in Nothern Mexico. We grow them in our area and on our farms most years. It is a gift to be able to cook a great pot of beans. And it is serious business around here. People are quite particular about their beans. We are lucky, because the lady that helps us here in our home, cooks a great pot of beans. And try as I may, I cannot duplicate her beans, even with all the same ingredients. In my opinion, there is nothing that smells better in a home than to have a pot of beans on to cook. After they have soaked all night, she puts them on to cook early in the morning. So the house smells great all day long. And when the darlings come in from school, they usually say something like..."oh beans, oh, they smell so good." We (like I have anything to do with it!) cook a pot of beans each week, near the beginning of the week, so that we may have a "supply" for the week. We always start eating the pot of beans with our all time favoirte....BEAN STACKS.....invented by The Farmer's dear Mother. They are well known around here.

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*Side note: these are black beans....not so common in Northern Mexico. This is the bean for Southern Mexico....it is rare to find a Pinto Bean down south. We love Black Beans too.

Now....for the Bean Stack...

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Step 1 - fill your bowl with Doritos



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Step 2 - Begin to layer with toppings, like avocado



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....cheese is a must,

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Pour hot beans over your toppings and continue to add, sour cream, diced tomato, onions and your favorite salsa. Then...dig in! A perfect meal, anytime....but on a cold evening....it really hits the spot!

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In Mexico....this is called a comal. A cast iron skillet. Again, found in every Mexican home. Something that always sits on your stove, because it is so used.

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And this is what it is used for! Warming tortillas. Another staple in a home in Mexico. Eaten with literally every meal, often freshly made for each meal. Tortillas are not only eaten along with the meal, they are used a bit like a utinsil. The Darlings love flour tortillas, and The Farmer likes the corn tortilla.

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A double comal...if you are warming tortillas for a several people. My favorite part of this comal, is the lettering on the side...if you look carefully.....HECHO EN MEXICO.....(Made in Mexico).
I have often thought, that during "tough" times, and I know that is relative, you would want to be in Mexico where the vast majority know how to survive on beans and tortillas. And more than just survive....they can make survival taste really good!
VIVA EL FRIJOL!!

6 comments :

Pedaling said...

so basically what starts out as a healthy dish of good for you protein...ends up on your plate laden with fat and calories and simply divine to the taste....

i get it.
sounds delicious,.

and i want one of those helpers in my home to assist in my cooking and cleaning on a daily basis.

The Farmer's Wife said...

Pedaling...remember the avocado is a "healthy"fat;) and the cheese is low-fat;) and well the sour cream...is just necessary! (hehe)

emily and Nate said...

I saw you on mormon mommys, I love your blog and pictures, hope you don't mind me stopping in every once in a while

Me... said...

This morning I read your blog and thought, "Bingo... that's what we'll have for dinner: bean stacks!" I already had a pot of beans cooking so it worked out great! As far as the "fat content" goes... the cheese, avocado, and sour cream are GOOD fats. I follow the "You Have to Eat Fat to Lose Weight" diet, and that is all approved. People think they have to have "fat-free" everything, but actually, "fat free" is worse for your health than "full fat." Now you can't go eat a big bag of Cheetos and think "full fats... yes!" It has to be REAL food that has REAL, GOOD fats in it (Like organic butter, etc). Anyway, I shouldn't have gotten started on this diet stuff 'cause I could be here all day talking about it. haha. Anyway, thanks for dinner!

Toni Call said...

Oh how i love a fresh pot of beans, there is nothing like it! I miss my Mom's beans... no matter how i make mine, they never turn out as good as hers!

Unknown said...

I am thinking about moving to Mexico for the homemade tortillas...do you have any extra space? :)

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