This weeks recipe was chosen by Danica of Danica’s Daily.  Check out her blog for the original recipe.  As for the two of us at Apple Crumbles, this meal caused a bit of an upset the morning it was on schedule for dinner.  This is what happened.

Ted:  “What’s for dinner tonight?”    Joanne:  “Baked Beans and Ham”. Ted”  “Ham?  What kind of ham?”   Joanne:  “You know…ham.”  Ted:  looking in the fridge….”Where is it? I don’t see it? Is it the big smoky kind with the bone in or is it the  sliced ham?”   Joanne:  “WHY DO YOU HAVE TO ASK?!”  Ted:….very suspicious now…..”Is it SOY?!!!!”  Joanne:  “It’s not Tofu!”   Ted:  “In that case….”….. he takes off down the hall to the large freezer and extracts a package of nasty pre-formed 85% less fat Beef Patties.  Big..well, not big, we don’t have BIG arguments, but a disagreement ensued and it went something like….cook your own dinners since I’m such a lousy cook….. don’t try to make me eat that stuff, I don’t like it….it’s silly not to try it…..etc. I ended up buying him a kibbeh sandwich for lunch (I felt bad about creating such a to do) and said (with a smile as we did share a good buy kiss after all the choice words in the morning)…”I bought you this since you have to suffer through such horrible meals all the time”….smarmy me…sarcastic…  a bit of nastiness…all that good stuff. Ted smiled, unwrapped his kibbeh sandwich and enjoyed his lunch.

Now for the BEANS!

DSC_6349

I thought the sauce was a bit thin.  It was very light on molasses in comparison to canned baked beans, laden with heavy molasses.  When I make these again, I won’t add the water and might increase the molasses by a tablespoon or two.  The molasses was certainly detectable but just not enough for my taste. 

The recipe:

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 package LightLife “Baked Ham” (vegetarian substitute) – roll up each slice

DSC_6343 DSC_6344

DSC_6347

  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 cans navy beans, rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz petite diced tomatoes (original recipe called for a 15 oz can of crushed tomatoes)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
  • 1 TBS Dijon mustard
  • 1 TBS cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp fresh ground pepper

Directions: 

Heat oil over medium high heat.  Add the onion and cook 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute.  Stir in the beans, tomatoes, water, molasses, mustard, vinegar, pepper.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook about 15 minutes. 

When ready to serve, top with the “ham” if the people at your table will eat the LightLife ham.

DSC_6350

If not – give ‘em the beans!

DSC_6354

OH! … and serve the following terrific salad along with it….

DSC_6345

This side dish paired  so well with the warming beans.  I did cut a few corners and bought the packaged sliced cabbage and carrot mix. It was “same day fresh” so I figured I wouldn’t do any better buying a whole head of cabbage and carrots.

DSC_6346

Serves 6

  • 1 (14  oz )  package coleslaw mix (green cabbage and carrots)
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced thin – skin on  *Crisp and juicy apples,  excellent for salads because they don’t brown as quickly as other varieties. They  also have a crispier bite than other green apples.
  • 4 green onions, green and white parts
  • 4 radishes, sliced thin

Dressing:

  • 3 TBS cider vinegar
  • 2 TBS honey
  • 3 TBS Dijon or Zesty Honey Mustard
  • 1 large celery stalk, diced
  • 2 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • ground pepper
  • 1/3 cup olive oil (EVOO)

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix the vinegar with the honey, mustard, diced celery, salt, and pepper. 

Gradually whisk in the oil until thick.

In a serving bowl, add the slaw mix.  Toss in the apple, green onion and radishes.

Add about 1/2 of the dressing and toss.  Let sit for 30 min. to 1 hour.  Pour on the rest of the dressing, toss

DSC_6355

and serve with your favorite main dish.  

DSC_6351

This was a really good pick the week of Christmas.  It wasn’t a heavy meal.  It was filled with all sorts of healthy fiber and nutritionally rich foods. 

Thanks Danica for the opportunity to serve something that was so satisfying.  And, in case you all are wondering, Ted did enjoy the beans, but not the “ham”.

Joanne

Print Friendly, PDF & Email