Beans

Wednesday, I soaked beans for the first time. I was so proud of myself. I have been wanting to do this for a long time! I think that I attempted it one other time, but when I cooked them, I didn't give them enough time. Last night I cooked the beans that I soaked on Wednesday and they were delcious. I then mixed them with rice that we were also having for dinner. Yummy! I have been trying to incorporate more beans into our meals. Now, I have to admit, they are not a favorite with my children, but they do tolerate them. Funny that I used that word "tolerate" as our character study for family discipleship last week was tolerate. Beans have such great nutrition value. They are a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. I knew that beans were nutritious, but I didn't realize until recently that a soaked bean is more likely to retain maximum nutritional value. This is most likely due tot he shortened time required for cooking. The longer you have to cook the beans, the less nutritional value will be retained since many vitamins and minerals are destroyed with added heat. So, if you have intended to soak your beans, but haven't yet, I urge you to give it a try. If you plan ahead, it really doesn't take that long! Enjoy your weekend.