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I’m so excited to be able to share with you a review and recipe for one of my favorite ebooks–The Everything Beans Book!
I didn’t really grow up eating beans, but when I discovered them sometime in my 20’s, they quickly became one of my favorite foods! They are cheap, filling and full of good protein.
But you know I’m the humbled homemaker, right? That means I’m a humbled–not a gourmet!–cook. Really, I’m learning as I blog.
So, up until a few months back, I really didn’t know how else to use beans except as a side dish.
The Everything Beans Book has definitely made eating beans so much more fun!
In this 95-page ebook, Katie of Kitchen Stewardship includes tips for preparing and storing beans, as well as 30 bean recipes!
Recipes range from sandwiches like chickpea wraps to soups like turkey vegetable chili to sides like chicken rice-a-roni substitute to pasta with white (bean) sauce to main dishes like Mexican stuffed peppers to the grain-free fudgy black bean brownies (my GF daughter’s favorite!) for dessert!
With winter coming and no end in site for this tough economy, The Everything Beans Book was a great investment for my family.
Want to try a recipe out yourself?
Photo courtesy Kitchen Stewardship
Slow Cooker Lentil Rice Casserole
Yield 4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 c. dry green lentils
- 1/2 c. brown rice
- 1 c. water
- 2 1/2 c. chicken stock
- 1 c. tomato sauce (8 oz. can) or 1 6-oz. can tomato paste + and extra 1/2 c. stock
- 3/4 c. chopped onion
- 1 c. chopped green or red pepper
- 1 grated or finely chopped carrot
- 2 c. cooked, shredded chicken
- optional: other vegetables like spinach, broccoli
- 3 tsp. Italian seasoning or taco seasoning
- 2 cloves crushed garlic or 1/4-1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Dash pepper
- 1 c. grated cheese ( I prefer sharp cheddar, but try a Mexican blend with the taco seasoning or mozzarella with the Italian)
- optional: salsa or spaghetti sauce to serve
Instructions
- Combine rice, lentils and water in crock pot. Soak overnight. (Do NOT turn crock pot on!)
- In the morning, drain the water and mix in all remaining ingredients except cheese.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
- Add cheese in 30 minutes before done.
Do you have any favorite bean dishes to share? Do you enjoy lentils?
Get The Everything Beans Book here!
Theresa Hartzell
Hi! For the Lentil Rice Casserole, did you mean 1/3 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning? It says 3 teaspoons and after adding it to the crock, I wondered why you wouldn’t just say 1 tablespoon? I’m afraid I may have put in too much seasoning.
Thank you!
Erin
No, it’s 3. I think I just didn’t realize 3 tsp. was a Tbsp! 😉 Haha!
LOgan
Do you have to cook the chicken before putting in the crockpot? It seems like if chicken was already cooked then it would get overcooked after 4-6 hrs in crockpot?
Please let me know! I plan on trying this weekend! Thanks!
Diane
Thanks for this recipe it sounds good. I think I am going to add in some zucchini and tomatoes.
Melissa
Is there any reason you couldn’t drop the water and put everything in the crock pot all at once? Why soak the rice and lentils first?
Searra
Hello Mel,
You need to soak the rice and lentils overnight because it would triple the cooking time in the slow cooker. Lentils have a hard shell that is hard to soften even with boiling.
Michelle
Minute brown rice? Or long grain brown rice? Would either work?
Erin
long grain brown