Texas Caviar

I could have sworn I posted this last year!  I can not find it anywhere on my blog.  Which means either cyberspace has eaten my post or I never posted it.  No fear, I made it again.  It really is something you will make over and over again. It is just that good.  It travels well, so it is great for a potluck! Or Memorial Day picnics.

Beans are a really great addition to your diet. " Eating the right foods can help you lower body fat and cholesterol. Beans such as kidney beans and black beans are high in essential dietary fiber important for healthy digestion. Adding beans to your daily diet is good for lowering body fat and controlling weight. This helps to prevent chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease."(SF Gate News). Thats pretty exciting!

Beans offer a few other benefits.  They have a lot of fiber so they will help keep you feeling fuller longer.  They also help your body with insulin spikes. "Soluble fiber in beans slows the passage of glucose from food into your bloodstream. Because of this, your body has to produce less insulin; high levels of insulin are a precursor to diabetes." (Johns Hopkins)

Beans are an undiscovered super food!  Lets keep it our secret though because you know the price is going to go up as soon as beans are discovered to be great! Will let people go on thinking that kale is the star.  We will know that there are some major stars waiting in the wing.

If you want some bean recipes, I have some here such as,  Frijoles- 3 Days, 3 Ways,  Borracho Beans, Party Beans, Negro Frijoles, Moroccan Fave Bean Soup,  Lucknow Red Bean Chili, Black Soy Beans, Hoppin' John, Pasta e Fagioli, Jamaican Coat of Arms... Many other recipes can be had because the bean is like a blank canvas (sweet or savory). 
 

TEXAS CAVIAR

4 cups black eyed peas*
1 (11 ounce) cans white shoepeg corn
1 cup red onion, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup red pepper, finely chopped
6 -10 jalapeno peppers, minced (if you don't like the heat, leave it out)

Marinade
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar

Mix all marinade ingredients together in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, pour over chopped onion and cool.

Drain beans if using canned and shoepeg corn. Combine all ingredients and marinade the bean and vegetable mixture for 24 hours.


*You can use any type of beans, it doesn't have to be black eyed peas.  You can use a mixture of beans for a very colorful mix.