July 2024 Heirloom Bean And Grain Club
Organic Tiger Eye Beans, Anasazi Beans and Organic Whole Spelt Farro
THE BEAN ONLY CONTAINS:
Organic Tiger Eye Beans, Anasazi Beans and Flageolet Beans
NEW TO THE CLUB?
Check out our blogposts with everything you need to know to get the most out of your membership in the heirloom bean and grain club.
How To Cook A Perfect Pot of Beans
The Definitive Guide To Cooking Beans
ORGANIC TIGER EYE BEANS
Tiger Eye heirloom beans are thought to be from Argentina or Chile. These are some sexy beans! Mustard yellow with burgundy stripes they are almost too beautiful to eat. If you manage to take these off the pantry shelf (I have mine in a glass ball jar to display their beauty) they cook up like a pinto but much more flavorful, silky and creamy with thin skins that almost disappear after cooking. Fantastic for soups, stews and purees like this Creamy Tiger Eye Dip.
ABOUT THE FARMER
Fifth Crow Farms is an organic family owned farm in Pescadero, California. Grounded in a values-based approach to land stewardship, Fifth Crow Farm is a dynamic and diversified organic farm in Pescadero, CA. Founded in 2008 with a shoestring budget, a supportive local community, and ambitious dreams, they strive to bring eaters the highest quality, best tasting, and most nutritious food possible.
Fifth Crow Farm wants their farm to be more than a business: they strive to make it an engine for positive change in the food system. They are stewarding the land in a way that not only respects but improves habitat for wildlife and builds better soil for future farmers. They also believe in creating a healthy, fulfilling, and fair work environment, and providing their customers with the best tasting, most nutritious, highest quality food possible.
ANASAZI BEANS
You'll find many a cook that waxes poetic about the many virtues of this beautiful little maroon and white mottled bean. It is thought to be an ancient ancestor of pinto beans because of the color but that's where the comparison stops. It is revered for not only it's sweet, dense flavor but also its quicker cooking times and the fact that there is no need to soak them.
Anasazi Beans have been grown by the Anasazi people in what is now called the four corners region of the United States dating back to at least 130 AD. They are sometimes called New Mexico Cave Beans because they were found in the ruins of their famous cave dwellings in New Mexico and Colorado.
These beans come to us from the Adobe Milling Company in Dove Colorado which holds a registered trademark on Anasazi name.
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM
These are exceptionally delicious and beloved by chefs. The fast cook time means they're probably the bag that will disappear the fastest out of your box. As with all beans we recommend at least cooking some with only salt and seasoning later. Cooking time on these is just 1 to 2 hours on the stovetop or 20 minutes in the pressure cooker WITHOUT soaking. If you need to soak because un-soaked beans are hard on your digestive system, Dr. Weil suggests soaking for 4-8 hours, changing the water and cooking for one hour. Remember to always salt the cooking and soaking water for the creamiest texture and to prevent your beans from exploding out of their skins.
The delicious flavor of these beans really shines in simple preparation like the Anasazi Frijoles de la Olla pictured above. Juniper berries are a common ingredient in indigenous cooking so we're crushing on this recipe for Anasazi Beans with Juniper Berries. The anasazi goes particularly well with southwestern food which is why we'll be making this southwestern vegetarian chili for hearty evening meals.
ORGANIC SPELT FARRO
Organic Spelt Farro from Main Grains is a semi-pearled farro, known in Italy as ‘farro perlato.’ Main Grains produces this farro from their organic spelt berries that undergo a pearling process to remove a small portion of the kernel’s outer bran layer. This step significantly reduces the cooking time while preserving the rich flavor and nutrition that whole grains are valued for. Spelt, an ancient grain cultivated since 5000 BC, is celebrated for its high fiber, protein, and vitamin content.
WHAT TO DO WITH SPELT FARRO
Spelt farro can be used in place of rice for soups and salads or as a hearty base for homemade grain bowls, offering a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. Make a healthy breakfast with fresh summer stone fruit, farro and yogurt in our seasonal Plumb Grain Bowl, or make a fresh strawberry basil ancient grain salad for lunch. Farro can be cooked and then kept in the fridge for 5 days or dried off slightly and frozen so that you can toss them in salads, make a quick stir fry or an easy Burrito Grain Bowl on a whim.
ABOUT THE MAIN GRAINS
By re-localizing grain production and milling Maine Grains supports the health and livelihood of the farmers and communities they serve. Their traditional stone milling process ensures nutrient-packed products that are full of flavor and perfect for natural fermentation baking and cooking. Maine Grains is creating jobs, improving land use, and providing healthy food for all while serving as a successful model for thriving local economies.
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