Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Keeping Cool
It seem counter intuitive to eat hot spicy food during the heat of the summer. Consuming spicy foods such as hot peppers actually promotes cooling by making you sweat. My dad tells stories of eating onions like apples while working construction in the deep south. If you want to stay cool bring on the heat.
Today’s Lunch
Beans and Rice
Soak 1 cup pinto beans overnight. Next day drain beans and combine with enough fresh water to cover beans in a pressure cooker. Add bay leaf, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or spicy pepper of choice, and black pepper (I’ve heard that adding salt prevents beans from becoming fully cooked). Bring to a boil and cook under pressure for fifteen minutes. Remove from head and allow to cool until all the pressure is released. Combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup white rice. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook rice until tender—about twenty minutes. Serve with Parmesan cheese and chipotle (smoked jalapeno) salsa if desired.
Notes: I tend to eat more white rice in the summer. I like to get a big bag of good quality basmati rice from our local Indian grocery store at the beginning of the season. Although white rice has half the fiber and only a fourth of the magnesium content it is easily digestible and provides good quality carbs, especially if combined with beans.
Today’s Lunch
Beans and Rice
Soak 1 cup pinto beans overnight. Next day drain beans and combine with enough fresh water to cover beans in a pressure cooker. Add bay leaf, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or spicy pepper of choice, and black pepper (I’ve heard that adding salt prevents beans from becoming fully cooked). Bring to a boil and cook under pressure for fifteen minutes. Remove from head and allow to cool until all the pressure is released. Combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup white rice. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook rice until tender—about twenty minutes. Serve with Parmesan cheese and chipotle (smoked jalapeno) salsa if desired.
Notes: I tend to eat more white rice in the summer. I like to get a big bag of good quality basmati rice from our local Indian grocery store at the beginning of the season. Although white rice has half the fiber and only a fourth of the magnesium content it is easily digestible and provides good quality carbs, especially if combined with beans.
