I stuffed them with chopped roasted red pepper, the chopped stems of the mushrooms (you saved those, right?), parmesan and mozzarella, garlic and oregano.  I grilled them for about 10 minutes on medium and then browned them a bit under the broiler to give it that nice, golden brown toasty look (totally optional.)

This is one of of those, “what do I have in the fridge” recipes?  Here are a few ideas to get you pumped:

Strictly Vegetarian

• Roasted red peppers, Gruyere and basil
• Chopped onion, celery and garlic (saute in a little oil first)
• Roasted garlic, white wine and breadcrumbs
• Sun dried tomatoes and ricotta
• Sauteed spinach or chard with goat cheese
• Hummus and feta
• Cucumbers, tomato and ricotta
• Pico de Gallo and Queso Fresco
• Apples, walnuts and blue cheese
• Mesculin (add AFTER grilling) and lemon vinaigrette

Carnivores

• Crab, onion and cream cheese
• Sausage, tomato and basil
• Shrimp, parmesan and Alfredo sauce
• Bacon, potato and Cheddar
• Chicken, oregano and Kalamata olives

On the side, a cheap, fresh, cheap, tasty, did I mention CHEAP salad?  Remember that fresh market I visited?

They said it couldn’t be done.  I fed a family of four a healthy meal for under $10.  (OK, THAT’s been done.) But I fed mine and they actually ATE it!  Ha!  Take THAT!  (Shadow boxes around room.)  Who’s your mama now?!

(Please support your mama now by Digging this post!)

        

I believe I mentioned before my Dad’s from a farm in Kentucky where, to get to the outhouse, you must first run a race for your life against the hounds that live under the porch. Coming from the hollers as he did, it was no wonder that the dinner he requested on his birthday was always the same…fried taters, a pot of greens, cornbread (made in a cast iron skillet…else it wasn’t cornbread), and a big batch of soup beans.

Soup beans are not to be confused with bean soup.  Bean soup has veggies in it, is often made with a recipe and can be made with any variety of beans.  Soup beans are down-home, are recipe-less and always, always made with pinto beans.

Looking back at the way Dad taught me to cook everything growing up, I’m surprised I’m still alive seeing as how I’m probably 98.9% bacon grease (the other 1.1% lard). Dad kept a coffee can full of old bacon grease on the kitchen counter and it was used to flavor everything….potatoes, poke greens, eggs, cornbread, gravy, pretty much everything that crossed our stovetop.  I’m surprised we didn’t just skip the food and eat the grease with a spoon.

So soup beans were always made with a honkin’ spoonful of bacon grease, a big ol’ ham bone, beans and water.  Then we boiled ‘em til they were done.  But knowing I want to live to see my grandkids drive my kids crazy, I’ve dropped the bacon grease (forgive me, Daddy.)

Here’s my revamped Soup Bean recipe:

The night before, wash 1 bag of pinto beans and check for pebbles or grit.  (I put mine in a colander, run water over and drain the water into a bowl a few times.  When the bowl water is clear, the beans are ready.)   Put the beans in a big bowl and cover with about 2x the water.  The next morning, dump it into a slow cooker and toss in a can of chicken broth (Dad would choke if he knew I added chicken broth).   Toss in a meaty ham bone, a few dashes of hot sauce, salt, pepper and onion.  Cook on low for about 6-8 hours.   Serve with cornbread (you will be arrested if you do not.)

Nutritious, flavorful, cheap and easy.   And you don’t have to dodge any hounds.

Please remember to Digg or StumbleUpon if you enjoy FHC! Thanks so much!
Francie

Related posts:

Kentucky Biscuits are Worth Being Chased by Hounds

Also see:

Soup Beans @ Miranda’s Place

        

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We interrupt this recipe for a commercial break. I’m not paid by these people…honest. But you simply must try Maldon Sea Salt. It’s not in in any stores close to home where I live so I got mine at Amazon for like $6.

Sounds like a lot when you can buy this stuff for under $2 but believe me, there’s no comparison. I mean, just look at this salt! It should be illegal for salt to look so pretty.

This stuff is so good my youngest daughter is always trying to dip her finger in it and eat it when I’m cooking. It will make a difference in recipes where there are few ingredients like this one. For baking or soups where it dissolves, I’d use regular Kosher salt. But for seasoning? Sprinkling on eggs, chips, grilled meat, salads or even melon, um, boy! This stuff is fantastic. Click here if you don’t believe me.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

**Your kids will devour these if you give them some ketchup to dip ‘em in.