FRIED COFFEE

The last decade has seen beans elevated from a side dish on a salad bar,  to star status in the the trendiest of boutique eateries.  Heirloom varieties are being sought out and featured on menus everywhere.

Howevuh,  seeins’ how I’m from New Hampsha,  I’d likely be rode out of town on a rail after being tarred and feathered if I weren’t to mention Boston Baked Beans from the get go.   So,  the first thing I did was to Google just that – Boston Baked Beans.   The very first link on the results page has a wicked good list of recipes for B.B.B and a pretty nifty history lesson to boot !  ( side note: Boston Baked beans – the candy you ate as a kid)

Kim Knox Beckius authored the article for About.com and has a whole mess of good stuff on her blog Kim”s New England Travel.

I digress.

Let’s start with the Wikipedia entry for beans.   Along with the usual history, cultural, and anecdotal information,  I found two notable references.

The first,  a link to the children’s ditty,  “Beans, Beans, The Musical Fruit”,  noting that it correctly identifies beans as a fruit, and giving no less than 14 variations of the the damn thing which I can’t get out of my head now.

The second is to be found in the section titled “Flatulence” and mentions the addition of vinegar to beans.   I sprinkle it on my cooked beans to this day thanks to my grandmother Rose and her daughter Ruth,  who did this just prior to consumption at the dinner table.   It adds a wonderful counter-flavor to the beans.

I digress.

These specialty beans have unique flavors and textures.  I’ve had great pleasure exploring them- tasting and trying new recipes.  I offer the links below to help you find and experience new beans.

Heirloom beans have hit the big time and afficiandos are buying them up like,… well,… hotcakes.   Seed Savers.org offers certified organic beans for your pot and Rancho Gordo has a pretty good list, too.   Purcell Mountain Farms has 3 pages of beans,  with pictures, too.

Steve Sando’s book Heirloom Beans not only looks good on the coffee table, but has stories, pics, and some pretty fair recipes, too.

A very interesting article  “Tending a legacy – Gardener toils to save vintage seeds for new generations”

A tip for bean cookery by Mark Bittman can be found at The Zest in a post titled “Magic Beans“.

Aesop is quoted as saying,  ” Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.”