Bloom on a Budget: Dominican Beans & Rice

Okay, if you've been following you might be thinking, "Dang, does this guy only eat beans! Bet his house is aromatic." Well, to answer the first question, no I don't just eat beans and two your body adjusts to the increased fiber.  Another way to minimize the, uh, aromatics is to put a half teaspoon of baking soda in the pot at the end of cooking.  Just a little trick and it doesn't change the flavor.

This recipe is inspired by the people that wrote Give Them Something Better.  Fantastic book written by a team of Seventh Day Adventists.  If you're unaware they follow a vegan diet based on their interpretation of The Good Book.  Without further ado…

Ingredients

• 1 pound of pinto beans (sorted, rinsed, and soaked over night)
• Large sweet onion quartered (use only 3 pieces)
• Large green pepper cored, seeded and quartered (use only 3 pieces)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup loosely packed cilantro 
• 1 clove garlic crush and finely minced
• 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar 
• Additional cilantro for garnish 

Directions

• Place bean in crock pot with enough water to cover by about 2 inches
• Cook on low for about 8 hours
• Remove pepper and onion pieces and place in a blender with a cup of the cooked beans, bean water (about a cup), cilantro, vinegar, and tomato sauce
• Blend until smooth and pour back into the pot and stir well 
• Serve over spanish rice, sprinkle with chopped cilantro

Bloom on a Budget

One (of the many things) that make me cringe is when people repeat the lie that eating in a healthy manner requires big buck and many trips to Whole Foods to stock the pantry.  There are dozens of healthy (and tasty) meals that can be prepared frugally.

Certainly, we pay for convenience.  Opening a silo of Pringles is easier than peeling potatoes and costs more per pound.  I'm not sure if I ever have heard anyone defending the health benefits of Pringles but you never know.  Yes, filet mignon is more expensive than ground chuck but neither are particulary good for you!

Over the next week or so I'm going to share recipes and frugal tips on blooming on a budget.  Perhaps it can be viewed as an extension of Dave Ramsey's idea of beans and rice to get out of debt.