Friday, May 15, 2009

Eisenhower Strawberries...!

That's what my Dad used to call pinto beans...Eisenhower strawberries!

We ate a lot of beans when I was young, but I didn't mind. In fact, beans and cornbread is still one of my favorite meals! However, in a worse case scenario when you are being forced to eat them all of the time because of a shortage of other foods, I can see where someone might have to get really, really creative.

Now we have already covered "Pinto Bean Pie" like Grandma King used to make, so today I wanted to share this recipe for something a bit different. This is a side dish and if you like fried cornbread, you should love this! Just try it!

PINTO BEAN CAKES

1 1/2 tbsp. salad oil
1 sm. onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. finely chopped red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 med. size fresh jalapeno chili, seeded and chopped finely
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/8 tsp. liquid smoke
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. yellow cornmeal

Saute onion, bell pepper, garlic and chili in about 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil until onion is limp. In a bowl coarsely mash beans with potato masher, they should stick together. Stir in onion mixture and seasonings, mix well.

Sprinkle cornmeal on wax paper, then divide bean mixture into 8 portions. Make cakes about 1/2 inch thick. Coat each cake with cornmeal. Put remaining oil in frying pan and heat. Brown cakes, turning only once.

Serve with salsa, fresh is best. This is a very different side dish.

Now, I know that this may sound a little off the wall, but remember that this is all about using your food storage in ways that your family won't get tired of. It's about getting the protein you need from your preps...it's about staying alive!

Now...let's get a fresh cup of coffee and sit on the patio, OK, my friend? Oh, just help yourself to the bean cakes there!

21 comments:

Ken said...

...first spot two in a row...woohoo...cheatin' a lil bit with my offhours,but it's one of the few moments with computer sans children...lol

...the recipe went into 'the binder',always stashing diff bean recipes...now beans,greens,and bread is a favorite,as a young'un,hated them...lol
...Thanx Jim

Gwen said...

Sounds good! We had a little rain and ruckus with thunder & lightning. Not a common occurence around here so I had to get up and check it out. I'll save the recipe. Jim, do you remember cold pinto bean and miracle whip sandwiches? Whoa!

TEAM HALL said...

Morning to yah Jim! So far I have not become ONE with the bean...
Going to be a tough conversion. Guess I should practice.
Have a fabulous weekend! Off to the cabin to start my planting.
I'll raise a cup of coffee (instant - eeeyikes!) to yah each and every morning though...
Cath

vlad said...

while you make fire in the Dakota fire pit, I will grind dried corn and dried beans in the Corona mill.

-mix water and 4 oz sunflower oil
-stir in two cups bean-corn meal
-stir in eggs if available
-put a little oil on skillet
-fry pancakes

BTW add a cup of sunflower seeds if you wish. very nourishing. nice flavour. if you like
extra crunchy use unshelled sunflower seeds.

Lydia said...

Hi Jim, I love pinto beans but never heard of them as Eisenhower strawberries! :)

This recipe sounds pretty good. I think I'll make it and not tell my kids that it is beans so they will try it.

Thanks for sharing!
lydia

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
Glad to see ya, regardless of the time. Gotta get that 'puter time when ever ya can. Hope this little recipe fits well with other in the binder...

Hey, thanks for coming by, Brother!


Hey Ginger...
I think it's just starting to move into the rainy season there in the desert, isn't it?

Haven't tried the bean sandwiches yet, but rest assured I will!

I appreciate the visit, Girl!


Hey Cath...
Wish I was with ya...but as you are with beans, so am I with instant coffee! Never could get used to it.

Have you tried the Folger singles? In a bag like a tea bag, and you just pour hot water over it and let sit as long as you want! Just depends on how strong you want your coffee! Has the taste we like cause it's NOT instant, but is easy to make ...

Hey, have a good time planting, and thanks for the visit today!


Hey Vlad...
Sounds like a very tasty recipe to me! Pretty easy to make also. I'll have to try it today! How much water do you start out with?


Hey Lydia...
I knew that there was a reason I liked ya so much! Anyone that likes beans has to be cool!

I think the kids would be very surprised with the bean cakes...

Thanks for coming by, my friend!

APN said...

Good post! I'd like to add that recipe to our recipes forum on our discussion board at:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.iboards.us/

If it's ok with you.

I don't care too much for beans, except for green beans, I love green beans, but they are about the best food for preppers and survivalists, probably why they were a main staple for pioneers.

APN said...

I wonder, anyone have an idea how long beans can be stored for...I mean if properly stored is their shelf live nearly indefinate

HermitJim said...

Hey American Prepper...
I'd be proud for anything I post or write to be posted to any prepper site. Lots of protein in beans, that's for sure.

If stored in an airtight environment or if frozen, the shelf life runs about 5 to 7 years...in the pantry, I have beans that I use that are 2 years plus...

Beans will take longer to cook as they get older, and lose a little nutrition value. On the plus side, I have taken beans 2 years old off the shelf and planted them in the garden this year. They are blooming away!

vlad said...

(REPOST. EDITED TO ADD WATER)
While you make fire in the Dakota fire pit, I will grind dried corn and dried beans in the Corona mill.
-mix 2 cups filtered water and 4 oz sunflower oil
-stir in two cups bean-corn meal
-stir in eggs if available
-put a little oil on skillet
-fry pancakes
BTW Add a cup of sunflower seeds if you wish. Very nourishing. Nice flavour. If you like extra crunchy use unshelled sunflower seeds.
May 15, 2009 5:29 AM

APN said...

Thanks for the info, I posted up on AmericanPreppersNetwork.blogspot.com too

vlad said...

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/cooking/cook-dried-beans

Very informative video.
Says here dried beans in airtight container in cool place have one year shelf life. When they get too ahrd to boil or pressure cook, I grind them with dried corn for mush or pancakes.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

hi jim...these sound great. i am going to try them! you might want to check out my journey cakes recipe i recently posted on my blog. i bet you will like them. i have pics of them too.

octoberfarm.blogspot.com

enjoy and see you on the patio!

HermitJim said...

Hey Vlad...
I have the updated info on the storage of dried beans you might want to look at The list is as follows:

Adzuki Beans
Blackeye Beans
Black Turtle Beans
Garbanzo Beans


Great Northern KidneyBeans
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans


Pink Beans
Pinto Beans
Small Red Beans
Soy Beans

As beans age they lose their oils, resist water absorption and won't swell. Worst case, they must be ground to be used.
Storing beans in nitrogen helps prolong the loss of these oils as does cool temperatures. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 8-10 years at a stable temperature of 70oF. They should keep proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures.
This info is from the source http://standeyo.com/Our_Books/DTP.html

HermitJim said...

Hey Jaz...
That sounds great! I love journey cakes...heck, I just like food as you could tell looking at my waist line!

Thanks for the link and for the visit!

Carol Ayers said...

Whoa, Jim...too early for me...I love pintos and cornbread but this is really interfering with the taste of my coffee...slurp....how bout a warmup...thanks

HermitJim said...

Hey Carol...
Sorry, didn't mean to catch ya off guard this morning. Maybe you could dip your bean cake in a little honey and pretend it's a pastry!

Naw...not quite the same somehow! Anyway, I'm glad tohave you visit the patio this morning, my friend!

Rod said...

Never heard them called strawberries. But have heard them called a musical fruit so I guess that fits.

Rod

HermitJim said...

Hey Rod...
Gotta go with what works, right? Besides it sounds cool...providing you don't have to eat them every day!

Hey, thanks for stopping by, Buddy!

2 Tramps said...

Thanks so much for the great recipe. We have been rotating stores and have a lot of pinto beans to enjoy. Mashed bean sandwiches have been eaten here - yummy. Also, garbanzo beans are great gently mashed and mixed with tuna for sandwiches.

Thanks for your interesting posts. I truly do have my coffee with you in the mornings, fresh from the french press.

Tramp #2

HermitJim said...

Hey Tramp #2...
I'm so glad you find the post interesting and glad to have you come by for coffee in the mornings.

Just a little imagine can make using food storage a pleasant experience...

Hey, I appreciate your visit today!