Soaking Dried Beans!

When I was young and I used to think of hippies, I used to picture people soaking beans on their counter top and pressing their own tofu.

 Guilty as charged. I am officially a hippie girl!

And you know what? Why not soak your own beans? It's a simple process that is healthier (no added sodium!) and more economical. It takes a wee bit of planning, but it's worth it because one bag of dried beans make a TON!

Start by giving them a good rinse in a colander.

I like to add one or two of these for a little kick.

Pour your beans into the crockpot and cover with water.

I obviously went a little nuts and make pinto...

Chick peas (garbanzo)

And these are the 5 bags (2 cups per bag) of the black beans, placed in freezer bags. Next time I need a quick dinner, I'll just put some over brown rice, toss a salad and call it a day :)

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

What the BULK?!?!? Brown rice makes a super easy lunch or dinner!

As much as we all love to cook every night (a-hem...not really, right?) sometimes you just need to throw something together quickly. And quick doesn't have to mean processed. In fact, I'd say making something like this can be done in about five minutes, as long as you have a little stash of brown rice already cooked and waiting in the fridge (which is a good idea, in general!) *side note: why not keep some quinoa, lentils and brown rice in the fridge for quick go-to lunches?*

One of my favorite go-to super quick (cheap!) and easy dinner goes something like this:

Fill a bowl with some cooked brown rice (so nutty and filling!)
Top with rinsed beans (either black or pinto)
Top with salsa (peach? mango? Spring anyone?)
Top with some defrosted frozen shoe-peg corn (so sweet!)
Zap it in the microwave. That's it! :)

And then jazz it up: avocado, green onions, chopped cilantro....the sky's the limit! Remember, meals like this are easy, affordable AND good for you! Cooking doesn't need to be some complicated event!

I imagine grad students all over the country already live on this :)