Comments on: Belly Timber

By: Mary@SimplyForties

Mary@SimplyForties — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:08:37 +0000

I buy sixteen bean soup mix, toss the seasoning packet and just cook the variety of beans like regular beans. It gives you a good assortment of beans. I always throw in a couple of garlic cloves, a dried chili and a bouquet of various herbs from the garden. It smells delicious when it cooks and tastes delicious when it’s done. Just be sure and either throw out the chili or dice it really small before you eat it. You don’t want to swallow a whole birdseye chili! I toss the herbs and cut up the garlic and put it, along with the chili, back in the beans and serve.

By: Mother Hen

Mother Hen — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:52:31 +0000

I used to add meat, of different varieties, depending on what I had in the fridge, but I found that it added a lot to the expense of the meal and didn’t add enough flavor to warrant the expence.
I do cook the rice separately and I usually serve the beans over the rice. Draining? It just depends on how much liquid I end up with. My Hubby likes his plate pretty soupy, I like it much less so, so I just vary the way I spoon it up at the table.
Yes, you can add many other seasonings and even veggies if you like, but it’s very tasty using just the taco seasoning mix, and simplicity and low cost ranks high with me.

By: deb burton

deb burton — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:43:07 +0000

Beans and rice are a frequent meal at our home, too, but I’ve never tried the taco seasoning. That may make all the difference with my crew, who like the rice but tolerate the beans. Thanks!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:51:42 +0000

MMSmith — I didn’t get an email with your comment, so I’ll post my reply here and on my blog:

Follow the same instructions as above, but add in the bacon or ham bone or whatever you want to use (any salt pork will work) while the beans simmer (usually about three hours). I take the bone out when I smush the beans against the side. Enough meat has usually fallen off the bone to add some great yum! If it’s bacon, the bacon just sort of falls apart and adds some meat and flavor to the beans.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:13:55 +0000

This was a fun post and I enjoyed reading it, but I have some questions, too. Do you drain the beans when they are soft and done cooking, or has all the liquid cooked in at that point? Do you drain and then add the seasoning? And when do you add the rice? This looks good; I have a big “pirate crew”, too, and I think I’ll try this soon!
Susan

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:02:53 +0000

Yum — this (almost) cajun girl loves her beans and rice — it’s a staple here, too. I usually add some bacon to mine (or a ham bone the few times a year I have one of those around). I’ll have to try it without the salt pork sometime — much more frugal!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:49:33 +0000

when do you add the rice? Do you cook separately? Looks yummy.