Peas, Beans and Lentils, Oh My.

Fear of commitment, this past weekend I was at a trade fair which I helped organize. We were holding a quick committee meeting and as I found myself agreeing to assist with other events, I said, I really do wish I had a fear of commitment. I find myself sitting on a number of committees. All of whom I believe in and am willing to do what needs doing. I just need to remind myself that I have to leave time for me and my Life.

One of the things that I have not found time for, yet, is learning how to preserve, can or pickle. Now that is not completely true. I have pickled beets and dills on several occasions. The ability to put food away for future use is an essential element in any home or community food security plan. To date, I have, as I said, pickled a few things, but mostly I rely on dry foods and canned goods. Dry pastas I purchase in quantity when they are on sale, as I do cans of tomatoes and paste. Canned fruit provides both liquid and solid and can be a lifesaver when the power fails, as long as you have a manual can opener.

The foods that I rely on most and which form the bulk of my diet are dry peas, beans and lentils. They come in a wide array of varieties, shapes, sizes and colours. They are generally easy to grow and all you need to do is put them in glass jars or another suitable container and they keep for a long, long time. They do need some pre-planning to use. Some soaking before cooking is required. Perhaps, most importantly, as you can grow them yourself, you have a direct connection with your food, right from field to table.

I always make more than I need for one meal so that I can put the rest in meal sized containers for future use. This way I have something that I can heat up quick when time does not permit making a meal from scratch. It keeps my finger away from the speed dial. I'll freeze some and leave a couple of meals in the fridge for quick fix lunches or suppers. Add a vegetable, whatever is handy, a slice of bread and supper.

Peas, beans and lentils are also great in stews and soups, either as a main ingredient or simply add a handful for extra zest. My slow cooker loves them. In fact, there is a lentil stew slowly simmering in it right now.

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