Had my first taste of black beans at Chi Chi's yesterday evening. Loved them. What are they? Can I grow them in Michigan? How do and what do I cook them in to taste that good?

-- Susan in Northern LP Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002

Answers

For recipes, might try adding Guatemala to your search words. It appears that you are right in the home of black bean research, according to these two articles. Might want to contact this researcher directly to get more information, have found most very easy to get information from, as they are interested in talking with people that are interested in their research.

Michigan State University Black Beans, http://www.maes.msu.edu/articles/100yrsbeans.htm Those efforts continue today but the major market expansion in Michigan continues to be in black beans. In 1998, more acres were planted to black beans than navy beans underscoring the preference among growers for black beans as compared to other non-traditional commercial classes. 1980's Class diversification in black and pinto beans. Release of first black, pinto, great northern bean varieties, Domino, Black Magic, Sierra and Alpine by MSU. 1990's Broad adoption of the full-season, high-yielding, upright short vine navy and black bean varieties by growers

, Bringing You Better Beans, www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep00/beans0900.htm Michigan State University/ARS breeding team, which is headed by MSU breeder Jim Kelly, All of the varieties released by the team have excellent canning qualities. Some of these varieties include, this year—Jaguar and Phantom black beans.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

Black Beans 'non-traditional'?

Here in South Texas, Black Beans are almost a staple.

Go to www.recipesource.com

type in black beans

-- Rose in Black Bean Country (open_rose@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

I fix black beans like any other; boil for a couple hours in salted water with a bit of olive oil. Then, drain (but not ALL the water, leave just enough to cover the beans) and then mash by hand or blend in a Vita-Mix. I also add some vegetarian soup base concentrate for flavor. You might have to cook them down some at the end, to thicken them.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 14, 2002.

We have black beans and rice at our house almost once a week. For the recipe go to the Cooking and Crafts Forum.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

Hi Susan, boy, black beans are a staple here too! Bush's makes canned beans of all types and varieties, and they are our favotite brand of canned beans, cheap too, at Wal-mart, less than 47 cents a can for most any variety, and we like 'em all.

If you restrict your salt intake, rinse the canned beans well in a colander before using, makes them even better tasting as well.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 14, 2002.

Black beans are sooo good! We like them mixed with corn, chopped jalapenos, chopped onions and garlic. Serve with a fresh hot tortilla. YUM

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

I have a friend who makes an awesome fresh salsa with black beans, tomtoes, onion, garlic and cilantro. She also gave me a recipe for black bean soup that's really good. I'll try to find it and post it on the cooking/crafts forum. They seem to take a little longer to cook than pinto beans. Check your seed catalogs for their growing zone, but I think if we have an early spring and you get them in early enough you should be able to grow them there. We live almost directly across from you in Wisconsin and have had pretty good luck with pinto beans, coco rubico and appaloosa beans. Well, I mean they grow, then the deer eat them. We never get as many as we'd like.

-- rose marie wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

Susan, as another michigander I tell you we can grow them here, in rows just like green beans. You just don't pick them until fall when they are dry and then you shell them. Great bean, use them often in soups, beans and rice, etc.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

They grow great here Susan! Just plant and take care of them like the green beans and kidney and pinto beans. They just stay on the plant until matured/dry. I like mine in soup and also bread.

-- Sher in se Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), February 14, 2002.

Sher,

How do you put your black beans into bread? As a bean flour or refried bean paste or something else? Thanks,

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

Hi BC..I have like a whole grain bread cookbook. It has a Black Turtle Bean bread. I take the dried beans and throw them into the Vita Mix..grind em up and use them in my recipe. If you do not have a recepe using them...email me....I will try to get it to you!

-- Sher in se Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), February 14, 2002.