Beans and Romance

"Marriage is more than a contract.  It's a messy, beautiful, living, breathing thing, full of dreams and history and patterns and memories."  ~Shauna Niequist

 

Today is our 20th proposal-versary.  Which automatically means Rocky Road ice cream.  Since Aaron proposed using this flavor, he scrounged up the ingredients to make a marvelous, rich, dark, not-too-sweet version of Rocky Road.  Very romantic.  I'm so grateful for the "history and patterns and memories" that we share.

 

 

Real life continues to march, however, and our hungry crew must be fed.  I can expect protein (except for fish) to be twice as expensive here in Honiara as it is in my hometown in Arkansas.  Beef, eggs, cheese, beans, chicken - all of them.  And I crave protein, especially when we have recently returned from Marulaon.  Beans that are twice as expensive are still our cheapest option, so "Scallions and Beans" showed up on our lunch table.

 

Scallions and Beans

from "More With Less"

 

Soak overnight or by quick method:

1 lb. dry white beans

2 qts. water

 

Cook in water to cover until tender.  Drain and cool.  Reserve liquid for soup or stew.

 

Combine:

4 scallions, chopped, including tops

2 cloves garlic, peeled and pressed

1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

 1/2 c. olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper

 

Pour dressing over beans.  Sprinkle with parsley.  Chill several hours before serving.

 

Note:  Our family loves garlic, and we have learned to double the garlic in 99% of the recipes we use.  Not this one.  We also find that 1/3 cup olive oil works just as well and substituting the lemon juice (which we don't have) with lime juice (which we do have) tastes just fine.