#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Just Like Abuela’s Cuban Black Beans

November 13, 2008 · Narrative

Over the years, I have exchanged a crazy amount of recipes with one of the engineers at work.  Although he’s now 80 years old, he’s still at it.  Indian food, Cuban food, Spanish food, you name it, he cooks it.  When we had an office potluck some years back, he brought in Cuban Black Beans and Rice and I knew after tasting it, that I had to get the recipe for The Husband.

The first time I made it for him, I held my breath.  After all, he’s Cuban and I’m certainly not.  Quite the challenge to make him something that he grew up eating, and have him give it his stamp of approval.  But approve he did.  In fact, I quote, “This tastes just like my grandmother’s recipe.”  It doesn’t get much better than that folks.  Well, actually it does.  The fact that Nicholas requested black beans and rice the other day just about puts it over the edge.

A year ago today … New England Clam Chowder.
Two years ago today … one of my favorite homemade pizza recipes.
Three years ago today … oh my gosh, the kids look so young, such little baby faces.

Hungry for more bean recipes?
Check out Kalyn’s Garlic-Roasted Green Beans.
Jaden from The Steamy Kitchen has some Stir-Fried Chinese Long Beans.
The great Mark Bittman shares the secret for outstanding Rosemary-Lemon White Bean Dip.
And lastly, The Perfect Pantry dishes up a Bailout Bean Soup.

Just Like Abuela’s Cuban Black Beans
6 servings

1 pound dried black beans (2 cups), sorted and rinsed
1/2 lb fat back (I use 2-4 oz instead)
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 large bell pepper, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 beef bouillon cube
2 bay leaves
1 can (14-1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups water
2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 4 oz can chopped chiles
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon oregano
3 cups hot cooked rice, for serving

Skin fat back and cut into cubes.  Fry pepper, onion, celery and fat back until well softened in oil.  Mix everything together in slow cooker and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until beans are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.  Remove bay leaves and serve beans over rice.

*Serve bowls of chopped red onion and hard-cooked eggs to sprinkle on top for a traditional black bean and rice dish.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Sara says

    November 13, 2008 at 1:37 am

    Sounds great, I’m always looking for new bean recipes!

    Saras last blog post..Roasted parsnips and cipollini onions

    Reply
  2. Kalyn says

    November 13, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Sounds really delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    Kalyns last blog post..Recipe for Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Thyme

    Reply
  3. The Neighbor (Wife) says

    November 13, 2008 at 9:32 am

    I can’t believe how little they both look.

    Reply
  4. Patsy says

    November 13, 2008 at 11:49 am

    You just have to keep a recipe like that in regular rotation when it’s that good!

    Patsys last blog post..Pretty Pumpkin Pie

    Reply
  5. Maricriss says

    November 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love the black beans when I go down to Miami, I know not quite Cuba but close enough.

    Reply
  6. My First Kitchen says

    November 13, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    I’m a new fan of beans and rice… which you’ll see on Monday during the challenge! So these look great, and I’ll take a it-tastes-like-my-grandmother’s-recipe recipe any day.

    My First Kitchens last blog post..How to Cook a Quesadilla

    Reply
  7. caroline says

    July 17, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    At the end, take a cup or more of the cooked black beans and puree in the blender. Then add it back to the rest of the beans…It makes them thick and authentic

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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