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twice now.
I think I did this last time. I know I did. With the beets. I took a beautiful ingredient, so very unique in its pattern, color etc. and I marred it simply by putting my hands on it, by using it. Gone are the interesting spots/stripes/stars that drew me in initially, lost to my very own negligence. Its happened twice now. I need to be more thoughtful in my recipe process it seems. 
So these beans…have you seen them? They remind me of Pinto horses but I suppose they should trigger more in the direction of whales- thus the Orca moniker. Either one works, I think. In any case, they are lovely. Its the kind of bean that looks good in a glass jar, on a shelf- thats where it belongs really, on display. My dear pal Sarah gifted these my way and I admit, I got a little flustered in trying to decide what exactly to do with them. No recipe seemed as though it would give these beans the appropriate stage, not a one. I mean- bean salad? Ew. No. Bean cake? Meh. I struggled before finally giving in and just deciding to make something that I was in to eating right then- a simple soup. No pageantry or hoopla, in go the beans for better or worse. This soup- theres some spice in there from the chili powder, some depth due to the beer, creaminess thanks to the coconut milk. Hearty and rich with a nice smoky sweetness, I ate mine with a smattering of fresh avocado diced up on top. I bet a side of tortillas with which to dip wouldn’t be too bad of an idea either.
2 T oil
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1t ground cumin
1 1/2 T chili powder
3 cups cooked beans (Orca, Pinto or Black)
1 15 oz can chopped tomatoes with their juices
1/2 cup Mexican beer
3 T brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup tamari
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1. Heat oil in large pot. Add the onion & saute until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin & chili powder. Cook 5 minuts longer, stirring.
2. Add the beans, tomatoes, beer, brown sugar, coconut mik & tamari. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add salt & pepper to taste. Take off heat & stir in cilantro. Serve hot.
Posted on January 12, 2012 with 6 notes ()
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cheriepicked posted this
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Seattle is home. It has a lot to offer- grocery co ops, inviting cafes, charming bookstores, friendly folk....
My time is spent... Horseback riding- a big passion of mine. There's nothing like a day at the stables and the bliss of a good long solo trail ride.
Running- a lot. I also maintain a regular yoga practice.
Writing, reading...some of my favorite books- Welcome to the Machine (Derrick Jensen), I Know This Much Is True (Wally Lamb), East of the Mountains (David Guterson), Whores and Other Feminists (Jill Nagle), Cunt (Inga Muscio).
I am drawn to...
The Southwestern portion of the US- cacti and desolate dry sprawling earth.
Photography- pictures of people mainly, black and white.
Music- country, bluegrass, folk, etc. And of course, anything that I can dance to.
Foods that I never tire of- blueberries, figs, squash, radicchio, avocado, red grapes, salmon, mussels, heirloom tomatoes, tahini, olives, walnuts, asparagus, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, eggplant, cherries, kale, apple butter, pears, mango, mushrooms, melon, brussels sprouts, collard greens, peaches...
I abhor factory farming. To know my food is of utmost importance-where its been, how it was raised...I respect the earth and myself too much to plead ignorance. The family farm is collapsing under the weight of big business. I want to take responsibility for my food and I feel our current system fails to do that. I fully applaud those folks that are still living off the land and providing for their families. Having worked on small farms in the past and seen firsthand what sustainable farming (animal & vegetable) looks like- its apparent that our current conditions are far removed from the original respectable idea. It shows in our tasteless food, our declining health, our damaged environment.
I'm a fan of spicy foods- Indian and Thai cuisine.
My drinks- red wine, dark beer and a good gin neat.
Dessert- nice dark chocolate in small amounts, a fresh piece of fruit. I don't have much of a sweet tooth.
Coffee- good ol' fashioned drip, an espresso or an americano...always black.
Cooking, eating, interviews, road trips and photographs- I share my adventures here. I feel fortunate as hell and immensely grateful for the opportunity to visit farms, sample restaurants and meet the truly lovely folks behind it all.
Questions/comments? Email me at: cherie@cheriepicked.com
