Katie, I’m really enjoying your New Foods Challenge. This week, I’ve tried kabocha squash as well as Tepary beans.
HEAB's first go at dry beans.
One of our friends, who now lives in Tucson brought CD and I a bag of brown Tepary beans during a recent visit to Nashville. Tepary beans are native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico and have been cultivated there for countless generations. The beans thrive in desert climate as they are one of the most heat and drought tolerant crops in the world. They posses a rich, earthy flavor, and per serving (1/2 cup cooked) contain 210 calories, 11 grams of fiber, and 10 grams of protein. Sounds good to me!
Would you believe that I have never used anything but canned beans? The can opener just makes things so easy, but I was anxious to cook up some of our Tepary beans after my mother-in-law gave me Barbara Pool Fenzl’s recipe for Tepary Bean Dip. So, I covered 1 cup of beans with water and let them simmer on the stove-top for about 2 hours. Then I proceeded to burn them. Oops. Note to self…add more water and do not forget to check on cooking beans occasionally while reading blogs cleaning the house. Fortunately, I managed to salvage most of them and threw them in my Vita-Mix along with the following ingredients:
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 TBSP fresh lime juice
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp chopped serrano chile
The finished product served over brown Basmati rice and spinach:
Mmm...Tepary beans are delish!
I will definitely be making this again, and the dip would be great at parties if you ever get tired of serving hummus….I know, I know, who gets tired of hummus?!? 
Let’s not forget about dessert:
The last of my kabocha squash roasted and topped with crunchy almond butter. Heavenly!
I set my alarm so I could make it to my usual Thursday morning Power Yoga class today, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Instead, I slept in until 6:30 AM, and opted to try an Anusara yoga class tonight at this studio. Following is a description from the studio’s website:
Anusara Yoga
Anusara (a-nu-sar-a), means “flowing with Grace.” Anusara Yoga is a powerful hatha yoga system that unifies a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with universal principles of alignment. This elegant, joyful, heart-centered system honors students of diverse levels of experience and ability, accepting that both our limitations and our talents are expressions of the Divine.
What to expect:
Introduces the fundamentals of yoga with an emphasis on breath and alignment. Students will be gently guided through yoga postures, meditation, and relaxation.
Ever tried Anusara yoga? I know both Polly and Maggie are big fans, and that alone makes me very excited to try it.
Have a good night my friends!
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I am loving that dessert and I have thought about dried beans before but never tried them….
Hmm… that is another new one for me to.. Do those beans taste anything like a “normal” bean?
I swear he must go looking for my truck/trailor when i’m out mowing in the afternoon, knowing he will unload a couple ice cream sandwitches…mmmmmmm
I actually made butter beans (from dry) yesterday, (i had to have cornbread to), even in a microwave they took nearly an hour! No more of that.. I have to go with the canned along with the preservatives, ahh.. Its to hard..
Is it bad that we are only a few months into the warm season and me and the guy that drives the ice cream truck are already on a first name basis?
oh my goodness I think I’m first commenter!?!?!
Love you, HEABS. Your comments on my blog are heart smoosh worthy.
XOXO
Anusara is my FAVE. Actually, the bulk of my yoga training has been under Anusara teachers. It is very loving, fun, heart opening, playful, and huge emphasis on encouragement! LOVE THAT YOGA.
Enjoy this day, sweet friend.
Beans beans the beautiful fruit… the more you the more you tute.
hope. I was third. Not fast enough typer.
okay… queen of typos = Pols.
I have only ever uysed canned beans too! I think it’s a bit of laziness on my part =) Oopsies!
Can’t wait to hear about your Anusara yoga class. I have never tried it but really want to!
i love anusara yoga! its very community oriented. the anusara teacher i take from uses lots of props, intense stretches and corrects our posture/alignment continually. it’s definitely my favorite
hope you have fun!
Enjoy the yoga. I have never tried anusara yoga! Let us know what you think. I just recently made beans from dried and enjoyed them! However…I do love the convenience of canned beans (as long as I can get a low sodium variety)
Mmm, those beans sound delicious! I love homemade beans. They are so much better than canned…but I’m usually too lazy to make them haha!
Kabocha! Where art thou!? I’m going to have to search whole foods for this one.
I love your dessert! I hope you get more kabocha soon
You could enter it in the BSI! You could even enter this if you want to… I’m not looking for fancy schmancy recipes, just yummy ways to have kabocha.
Anusara is really nice. It’s like a relaxing flow class. I bet you’ll like it. I agree with Pols that it’s “playful” – just have fun!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of anusara! They offer that at one of the studios near me, but it classifies it as “Int/Advanced.” And “Int/Advanced” in yoga, I am not! But I would love to work up to it one day.
Sadly, I have only ever made beans from a can, too. Shame! I’ll admit it’s mainly for the convenience. I LOVE my beans. Those beans look so delish and pack a good amount of protein, which I love.
Squash + almond butter? GENIUS!
those beans sound great! I like freshly cooked beans best, but I usually canned unless I plan ahead!
I love Tepary beans! I’m from NM – I’ve eaten them since I was little.
Enjoy your yoga tonight – it sounds lovely.
I am so glad you liked the kabocha. Its my new favorite thing.
Emma
haha can i just tell you girl – everytime you mention your “vita-mix” i always think your talking about vitamuffin mix – so i always wonder if im missing something because i never see any muffins.. i officially feel stupid
yum! looks delish!
oh how i love steamed kabocha!!! Thank god for whoever invented it because i think i just found an alternative to roasting squash.
YUMMYYYY! hehe yes i can believe you’ve never experienced dry beans cuz i’m SO guilty of only using canned beans…:P It’s just too convenient!!
Oh no!! Sorry about the burnt beans! The dip looks fantastic! Truth be told, if someone didn’t want hummus at a party I threw, they wouldn’t be invited back
I’m a canned girl as well but maybe I’ll give cooking my own a go one of these days!
wow those beans have really good nutrition stats! i’ve never heard of them. i am lovin’ the NFC too! there is a whole world of food out there that i’ve never even known about. i love reading about what others are trying for the challenge. that dip looks so good!
Kabocha squash rocks my socks! Ok, so I’m a weirdo. And Heather, my tummy hurts because I just ate a whole head of cauliflower again. Why am I so dumb???
*Ends rant*
Your dessert looks soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good
kabocha for dessert!!! You’re in my group Heather!
the new yoga sounds interesting too! So glad that you’re enjoying new food/yoga!
I went to an Anusara place once while I was visiting my in-laws. It was okay, but not what I was expecting because I actually went to the wrong location.
need to get me some of that squash! and i’ve been meaning to try soaking my own beans, it just hasn’t happenned yet…
The dip sounds really good and makes me want to cook some dried beans! Burning the beans is totally something I would do though…
Soaking beans has been on my list- but somehow chipotle, fro yo, and desperate housewives NY always seems to be ahead of it?? Love you heath!
Love you!! haha!! You know where I have been….
~Justine
Good use for extra kabocha!
I’ve never tried tepary beans but they sound good.
I have a confession to make: I use canned beans too! Your post has inspired me to give dried a try!
I’ve never heard of those beans, but the stats are phenomenal!
Tired of hummus…pishaw, that’s like tired of almond butter.
What’s a matter, CD, cat got your tongue?
Okay, so I’m going to have to try this kabocha squash! I love trying new types of yoga! How was this class?
I’ve been meaning to put nut butter on squash, it looks so yummy!!
You’re lucky you have so many yoga studios to choose from! I can’t wait to hear what you think of anusara
I’ve never heard of those beans before. I’m in the most non-desert like climate ever!
The dip looks phenomenal. Homemade beans are always a lot thicker than the canned variety. Sometimes I actually prefer canned stuff for dips, but there’s nothing better than a pot of chili made with homemade beans 
Almond butter on squash!?!?!? Love it. You really can put it on everything!
Enjoy the yoga tonight! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it. Your “dessert” looks fantastic!
<3 jess
Dry beans are amazing and delicious and actually freeze very well!
I’ve never tried Anusara yoga. Enjoy!
Apparently CD has no words for tepary beans. Sounds good to me though! Beans are a magical food indeed, though I should be a good girl and start buying more of them dry, besides lentils that is. Plus I’ve heard foods packed in cans may not be as good for you depending what the can is lined with or some such thing…that hasn’t tempted me out of laziness yet though. Happy Friday HEAB!
[inserts shameless plug for Vitatop giveaway
]
we are completely on the same wavelength lately, its scary! i bought my first bag of dried beans yesterday and as i type this they are simmering on the stove. of course, mine are garbanzos – haha, as you said “who gets tired of hummus?”
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