Home

My Secret to Effortless Weeknight Dinners: The French Market Bean Mix

As a busy working mom, time is my most precious commodity. Juggling work, kids' activities, and maintaining a semblance of a social life leaves little room for elaborate cooking. That's why I developed my French Market Bean Mix – a game-changer in my kitchen and a true testament to efficient meal prepping. This isn't just a recipe; it's a time-saving strategy that’s transformed my weeknights from stressful to simple.

The beauty of this mix lies in its simplicity and versatility. I prepare a large batch once a month, portioning it into individual jars. These jars become my culinary lifesavers, transforming a potential weeknight cooking nightmare into a delicious and hearty meal in under an hour. The preparation itself is straightforward – simply combine a variety of dried beans, lentils, and barley, then divide and store. This upfront effort pays off handsomely in the long run. Imagine having a pantry staple that's ready to go, providing a base for soups, stews, salads, or even as a simple side dish. The possibilities are endless!

Why this mix is perfect for busy lives:

• Time-saving: The bulk preparation is done upfront, freeing up precious weeknight time.
• Cost-effective: Buying beans and lentils in bulk is significantly cheaper than buying pre-packaged convenience meals.
• Versatile: The mix can be used in countless recipes, keeping meals exciting and preventing food boredom.
• Healthy: It's a fantastic source of protein and fiber, making it a nutritious addition to any diet.
• Easy storage: The individual portions are perfect for grab-and-go meals or freezing for later use.

I often use this mix as a foundation for a hearty bean soup. I add a ham hock for extra flavor (though vegetarian alternatives work well too), some diced tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Simmering it all together creates a comforting and flavorful meal that the whole family enjoys. Sometimes, I'll add different spices to change the flavor profile. A dash of cumin and chili powder transforms it into a southwestern-inspired dish; a sprinkle of Italian herbs creates a Mediterranean twist. The versatility is truly remarkable!

Beyond soups, this bean mix is fantastic in salads, chili, or even as a side dish. I've experimented with adding it to pasta sauces, stews, and even incorporated it into my homemade veggie burgers. The possibilities are limitless, only constrained by your imagination. Each jar of this pre-made mix is a small victory against the daily demands of life, delivering a healthy, tasty, and convenient meal whenever I need it.

The French Market Bean Mix is more than just a recipe; it's a lifestyle choice. It’s about embracing efficiency without compromising on taste or nutrition. It’s about reclaiming my time, reducing stress, and creating delicious meals that nourish both my family and my soul. It’s a small act of self-care within the chaos of everyday life, and I encourage you to try it – you might just discover your new weeknight dinner savior, too!

Tips and variations:

• Customize your mix: Feel free to adjust the quantities of each bean based on your preferences.
• Add other grains: Quinoa, rice, or farro would be delicious additions to the mix.
• Experiment with spices: Use your favorite herbs and spices to create unique flavor combinations.
• Make it vegetarian/vegan: Omit the ham hock and use vegetable broth for a vegetarian or vegan version.
• Freeze for longer storage: The individual jars can be easily frozen for up to three months.

So, take the leap and try this game-changing bean mix. You won’t regret it! The time saved, the delicious meals, and the sense of accomplishment will be well worth the initial effort. It’s a small investment that yields significant rewards – more time, less stress, and healthy, delicious food on the table. Embrace the simplicity, enjoy the process, and savor the delicious results.

Step-by-step

• In a very large container, combine navy beans, pinto beans, great northern beans, split peas, yellow split peas, black-eyed peas, lentils, baby limas, limas, soybeans, barley and red beans; mix well.
• Divide evenly into 14 (1 pint) lidded jars.
• Attach a card to each jar with the following recipe: ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS: 2 quarts water; 1 ham hock; 1 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 clove garlic, minced.
• TO PREPARE: Soak 2 cups French Market Bean Mix in water to cover, 8 hours or overnight.
• In a large soup pot, bring 2 quarts water and ham hock to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
• Remove ham hock.
• Stir in soaked beans, salt, pepper, diced tomatoes and green chiles, onion and garlic.
• Bring to a boil again, skimming foam off the top.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until beans are tender.