VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Philip Banks]

Just so we can't be accused of being completely voice over obsessed. On the menu today a little delight called Bistro Beans...very yummy too!

[Christopher French]

Jen's making a lasagne (I think I mispelled it) for dinner tonight, but I don't have a picture to show you, because it's quarter to 9 in the morning.

Chris
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

[Deirdre]

Nice stove, there Mister Banks.

Your bean adventure makes me want to make split pea soup!
We're supposed to get nasty weather starting tonight-- snow, sleet, freezing rain. I think it sounds like the right idea to warm the house up.

I don't cook much-- and this is one of the things that I make that my family actually enjoys.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

[Bailey]

Don't delay!! Get your entries in today for the VO-BB Cooking Contest! The winner will receive a pair of black horn-rimmed glasses, with hidden micro earphones... as modeled by DB and Pat!

_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[Drew]

Why that does look rather savory, Phil. Perhaps you could post the recipe..or is it like many of mine...just throw in whatever ya got around the kitchen, simmer, and tweak until it tastes like something good? Of course with that method, it's hard to duplicate the gastronomical masterpiece.
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Hart]

[Philip Banks]

For those of you who are into full frontal images, here is an explicit shot of the stove.



On a more practical note the recipe for Bistro Beans will be posted shortly. It's worth making a good quantity either for one family meal or to last a few days as it is very moreish.

[Philip Banks]

The Banks’s Bean Thingy (Bistro Beans)

What you need:

1 tin kidney beans 1 tin cannellini beans
1 tin haricot beans 1 tin green lentils
1 tin baked beans 1 tin butter beans
1 tin chick peas 1 cup mung beans
1 tin ratatouille 1 large onion
6 rashers of back bacon 3 cloves garlic
I teaspoon tarragon 1 smoked sausage (cut into bite size pieces)
10 frankfurter sausages (cut same as smoked) 1 packet chilli mix (½ pint)
Two teaspoons of mustard seed 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon of peppercorns 1 teaspoon hot chilli paste
Vegetable oil 1 pint of chicken/veg stock
1 teaspoon cumin seed 3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup

All tins/cans of beans are already cooked; they just need rinsing thoroughly and put to one side.

Preparation: (It’s not as bad as it looks – honestly!)

The night before put the mung beans into a pan of water and soak overnight, ideally up to 12 hours.

On the day of cooking rinse the mung beans thoroughly and then put them back into the pan, cover them with water and boil for 10 minutes.

Rinse the mung beans with cold water when cooked and put to one side.

Open the can of baked beans and put to one side.
Open and rinse the green lentils and put to one side.

Open all the other cans of beans and rinse them thoroughly in cold water.
Put all the rinsed beans together ( don’t forget the mung beans) with the chick peas and green lentils in a bowl and mix them up.

Fry or grill the bacon and then chop it into small pieces. Put to one side until needed.

Peel and chop the onion and then fry it until tender (preferably in the bacon fat). When ready, put to one side.

Crush the garlic and chop it roughly and put to one side.

Chop the frankfurters and smoked sausage and put to one side.
Mix together the cumin seeds, peppercorns, caraway seeds and put to one side.

What to do next:

In a very large pan put a tablespoon of vegetable oil and heat until almost smoking then add the mustard seeds.

When the mustard seeds start popping add the cumin seeds, peppercorns and caraway seeds. Stir until you can smell the spices.

Add the onions and half the garlic and mix well.

Open the baked beans and put them into the pan and stir well. Add half the rinsed beans and the rest of the garlic along with half the bacon, sausages and frankfurters.

Give it a good stir.

Open and add the tin of ratatouille and mix well.

Add the stock and the rest of the ingredients except the tomato ketchup and mix well.

Turn the heat up until the ingredients start boiling.

Boil for 2 minutes and then turn down to simmer.

Add the tomato ketchup, stir well and leave to simmer.

Stir occasionally over a period of half an hour.

Thingy (Bistro Beans) will be ready after another 15 minutes.

Serve with any thing you like, crusty bread is perfect!

[dscott]

Hows about something to go with those delightful beans!

Cheers!
Dave

[Drew]

Thanks for the recipe, Phil. Will have to give that one a try in the next couple of weeks. Thing is, ratatouille doen't come canned here in this part of Texas. (Plenty of Chipotle, though. ) Will have to whip up my own with veggies and stuff on hand. Just for fun I just might ask the grocer if they stock it. "Say wha, son? Ratta Petootie what? This is a clean store; we ain't got no rats' petooties heya, boy."
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Philip Banks]

Got to be worth asking if your grocer has a rat or two. If he co-operates as a special gift offer him the photo of Dave (above) after a pig of a day at the mic.

[Drew]

We got's lots of them wild pigs roaming the prairie here. Lots. Mean, too. Open season all year for them. A friend of mine likes to trap them. Excellent "free range" pork, if you will. They roast up real good like on a spit in an open pit.
_________________
www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Philip Banks]

Now that's proper "hunter gatherer" cooking!

Is it just me that finds repugnant the expression "hunter gatherer" being used to describe a middle manager at work while his wife stays at home?

Of course some middle managers have been away on survival weekends so they know a thing or two. Very useful. When that meeting about the 2006/7 paperclip quota gets nasty they regain control by crafting a rudimentary shelter from a copy of Fortune and the entrails of the guy from accounts who no one really liked any way.

[donrandall]

Mr Banks - I must compliment you on the photo you posted. I can see she's a hot one - and, oh man, what a rack!

[SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer]

Here are some before and after photos of my favourite mode of cooking - low and slow....
In the smoker

Stuffed leg of lamb

Beef Ribs

_________________
Elaine
The Youthful Mature Voice (Emeritus)
Senectitude is not for the faint of heart.