Customer Reviews

Country Beans - 2nd Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cookbook provides recipes for simple and tasty meals using dried beans that can be found in any grocery store. I have other bean cookbooks that call for exotic beans that are difficult to find. My only problem with this book is that half of the recipes call for bean flours that are not so easy to locate. Health and specialty food stores may have one or two types of bean flours such as soy but not all of them called for in this book. The only place I could find pinto bean flour (used in many of the recipes) was in online stores with high shipping charges. The author directs the reader to Bob's Red Mill in Oregon but their web site did not offer any bean flours which may not be available anymore. Because I really wanted to try many of the recipes and I was intrigued with using bean flours in cooking, I took the author's advice and bought a K-Tec Kitchen Mill to grind my beans at home. I am happy with it and I think the instant refried beans made with pinto bean flour is tasty and will be a money saver over time. The soups thickened with bean flours will also be a healthy and tasty way to eat. If you are not interested in searching for bean flours or grinding them at home you may want to look at other bean cookbooks before you purchase this one. Although, this cookbook would be helpful for those allergic to wheat because the recipes show how bean flours can replace products containing gluten.

Rita Bingham has included a lot of great recipes. I've learned a lot from her informational section on storing, grinding, soaking and preparing beans for different uses. I also appreciate her list of places that sell supplies.

This book is a great incentive to do more with beans than you ever thought possible. How to include them in everything from breakfast to main dishes to cookies and desserts. Also how to make tofu. A very inspiring book!

This is another favorite book by Rita Bingham that is full of information as well as recipes. Like her other books, this is a compendium of healthful cooking. Mrs. Bingham recommends a grain mill that I have on my wishlist for now. But happily I discovered a COFFEE mill at Sam's Club for $30 that grinds what I need, with very little mess. If you are on a budget but want to get started you can read my review of the little Cuisinart Coffee Mill. If it breaks, there's no big loss!Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

Is a great way to turn whole beans/peas into "fast food" with the help of a grain grinder. Refried beans in just 5 minutes! Wonderful ideas.

This is a great resource in preparing, cooking, grinding and storing your dry beans. This book also give you great ideas on making and using bean flours. I haven't tried all the recipes, but the ones that I have are rather simple and bland (most have little or no fat, no extra spices, little meat, etc.) I've found it easier to adapt my own recipes using the concepts she's taught and have made some very flavorful soups, casseroles and desserts! Great information too, for those on special diets (i.e., lactose intolerance, gluten-free). But any of these recipes can be adapted to your own tastes and eating habits---beans are too nutritious to not use regularly!

There is a great Gluten free recipe in this book to make Cream of Chicken condensed soup. Great for any recipe that calls for this.... for example that great Green Bean casserole your mom used to make. Of course, use GF tater tots on top.

My wife has a lot of food based allergies--wheat and cow dairy to name a few. This bean book is amazing for us! We recommend it to anyone with food allergies (especially if you have a wheat intolerance).

This book is absolutely filled with terrific ideas and healthy recipes. She explains in great detail the benefits of adding beans to your diet. The recipes that I have tried are delicious and easy to prepare. If we followed her advice we would be a much healthier society. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in nutritious eating.

I have tried several recipes in this book, and most of them turned out great! They are very, very healthy and you can discover so many ways to use beans you never thought possible.
It's easier for me to cook with this book because I have a wheat-grinder, so I can also grind the beans to make all the bean flours it calls for. Sometimes the recipes aren't the tastiest---some of the bean flour soups turned out really weird...but other than that I LOVE this book!!