Baco-Beans

I can hear you all now, 'What are Baco-Beans?'. Well, I will tell you my friends. Served as an entree the combo of the crispy bacon mixed with the nutritious beans and rice, they become a delicious dish that never fails to end in clean plates at my house. This recipe is not entirely shelf stable, but I feel sure that you could switch out the fresh bacon with some bacon flavored TVP and not notice too much of a difference.

Baco-Beans

Cooking time: 20-25 min

Feeds 4

Ingredients:

1/2 pound bacon

2-15.5 cans black eyed peas

half of a large onion chopped

3-4 garlic cloves minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 cups uncooked rice

4 cups water

Place rice and water in a sauce pan and cook according to manufacturers directions. While the rice is cooking, slice the raw bacon into one inch pieces and cook in 12-inch skillet until crispy. Pull the bacon out of the pan and set aside to drain. Pour off all but two tablespoons of the bacon grease, set the pan back on the stove on medium-high heat and add in the onion and the garlic. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and saute until softened. Open the cans of black eyed peas, and pour contents into skillet along with the onion and the garlic. DON'T DRAIN THE PEAS! Stir occasionally for a few minutes until slightly thickened. Turn off the stove and stir in the bacon. Serve warm over the rice.

Feel free to serve a crunchy crust bread along side to sop up any extra sauce that might be lingering on your plate. Nutritious and for the most part, healthy.

If You Can't Take the Wheat, Get Out of the Kitchen!

These really yummy Whole Wheat Muffins are a variation of the recipe I was given. It is entirely shelf stable.

Whole Wheat Muffins:

Makes 12 muffins

Pre-heat oven to 350°

Grease muffin tin

Ingredients List:

Dry Team

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/3 cup powdered milk

enough powdered egg to make one egg. Follow your manufacturers instructions.

Whisk dry team in a medium bowl until well blended. In a separate bowl, assemble the wet team.

Wet Team

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup water plus enough for the egg

Mix wet team and add to the dry team, mix until blended with no lumps. Batter may seem "runny". Spoon or pour into greased muffin tin, two-thirds up sides. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until a tooth-pick inserted comes out clean.

These are wonderful all on their own, but for variation; just before baking, try sprinkling on chopped walnuts, or craisins, or oats, or even (dare I say it?) mini chocolate chips!