Dinner

Beans on a Budget

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I had a pretty peaceful afternoon. It was rather lovely! After lunch I made a big mug of my peppermint tea (the real stuff) and went to the couch to read my new book–The Food Revolution by John Robbins. I read, I shut my eyes for awhile (didn’t fall asleep though but it was still nice), and midway through I made a toasted FlaxPlus waffle with jam for a little snack. It was that kind of day.

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I had to make a really early dinner tonight because I’m working at 5:30. Last night I set out to soak some giant lima beans that had been sitting in my pantry since last fall. Perfect. Soaking beans overnight couldn’t be easier though and I woke up to a nice pot of HUGE limas this morning! For dinner, I sauted the giant beans in some olive oil then added some garlic, red onion and fresh baby spinach and cooked it all til the beans were crusty and the spinach had just started to wilt. Oh my gosh–it was SO GOOD! This simple, easy to make meal will now be one of my staples because I always seem to have all the ingredients on hand and its so satisfying.  On the side I made some roasted veggies (surprise, surprise!)–cauliflower and asparagus–and rounded out the meal with a toasted Ezekiel english muffin smeared with a little Earth Balance. I just love meals like this because they make me feel so good. Beans are such a great protein source and sooo affordable–I’ll probably be eating a ton of them in the months to come!

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I’m actually driving home to Tampa tonight after work because I don’t have to close, which means I’ll get off around 10:00 and be home around 11:15. Since I’m used to going to bed late now, that works right with my schedule! Plus, then I get to maximize my weekend by having two nights at home instead of just one rushed one. Depending on how I feel I might stop at Starbucks for a tea/soy milk misto after work to sip on while I drive.

Have a safe, happy Saturday night!

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  • Laura
    March 8, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Wow those beans did get huge!! Love it.
    Have a great night and drive to Tampa!

  • Jenny
    March 8, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    How did you cook those lima beans? They’re huge!

  • Alyssa
    March 8, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    That waffle looks good! This might sound weird, but I loooove putting a tbsp of cream cheese on a waffle as a part of breakfast! I have to say I am a cream cheese fan, well…cheese in general! Are all cream cheeses the same, or are their vegan ones, or “healthier” ones that are not the 1/3 less fat, fat free kind? Sorry if this is a naive or dumb question!

  • Meghan
    March 8, 2008 at 11:05 pm

    Alyssa, I do know that there in fact is vegan cream cheese, but I have never tried it, so I have no idea how it compares!

    I love love love lima beans but I haven’t had them in FOREVER. I think it’s the texture of them that I absolutely love.

    Have a good weekend at home!

  • Kath
    March 8, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    We have dried lima beans to soak too!!! You beat me to them!!!

    Looks wonderful 🙂

  • ChocolateCoveredVegan
    March 8, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    I love that book, I love those waffles, AND I love roasted veggies :o)

  • VeggieGirl
    March 9, 2008 at 12:22 am

    So glad that you’re enjoying the book; and hey, you’re definitely having a waffle-day, aren’t you? haha :0)

    I LOVE giant lima beans – your dinner looks amazing, as always.

    Enjoy every minute of your time in Tampa!! You deserve it!!

  • Romina
    March 9, 2008 at 12:31 am

    Beans are great. Whoever says being a vegetarian (or eating like one) is expensive is obviously eating all the wrong stuff!! Beans are so much cheaper than meat or fish. =)

    Mmm. I LOVE waffles for snacks! I just toast them up an eat as is. Breakfast food should be for all day (Denny’s has the right idea).

    I want to read John Robbins’ book, but unfortunately it’s checked out of all the libraries in my city for a while. I’ll definitely get on the list though, it sounds really interesting.

  • nicole r
    March 9, 2008 at 1:19 am

    hey alyssa–

    tofutti makes DELICIOUS cream cheese out of tofu (obviously i guess haha)—i honestly think it tastes way better than regular cream cheese. HOWEVER you HAVE to make sure to get the non-hydrogenated kind—the regular kind has as the 2nd or 3rd ingredient partially-hydrogenated oil, so definitely heads up there.

  • Emily W.
    March 9, 2008 at 1:45 am

    Wow! I just went through the first 169 pages of French Women Dont Get Fat (and I usually dont read much!)! Great Book!

    What temp. do you roast the veggies at and what do you put on them? Thanks!

  • Lindsay
    March 9, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    I think that is my next book to read, glad to see you are enjoying it 🙂 Have a safe drive home!

  • Sara F
    March 9, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Hey Jenna-
    I havent posted in a while. Just wanted to tell you I bought Veganomicon yesterday (well actually my bf bought it which was amazing of him considering it’s huge and hardback and not cheap!) Anyway, I’ve always had a lot of stomach problems so for the past month or so I’ve gone vegetarian/almost vegan, cutting out all meat and most dairy. It’s really really helped! I’m so excited to try the book. Any recommendations? I really want to make the banana bread, and the pound cake (i think Veggie girl made this one), and the eggplant sandwich sounds wonderful! Sorry for the long post and thanks for getting me thinking about vegetarianism. I think its going to make a huge difference for me!

  • VeggieGirl
    March 9, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    **Sara F:

    I’ve made both the pound cake AND the banana bread – I’ll be posting on my blog later today, about the banana bread; and my current post features the pound cake!! :0D

  • Sara F
    March 9, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    Veggie girl-
    I made the banana bread this afternoon. I made it into muffins actually. they were WONDERFUL! I had two mini muffins with some peanut butter and an apple for dinner. Sort of a weird dinner but it hit the spot.