Pinto Beans Latin Style Reviewed

A Little Spice Is Nice

Pinto Beans image from public domain

A discovery at the grocery store of pinto beans Latin style is what I would like to review with you today. I had asked my husband to pick up a brand of pinto beans that I had seen on a television commercial. He called to tell me that they did not have that brand in stock but they had Bush's Cocina Latina and they looked pretty good. I told him to go ahead and get some and we would try them. Oh my goodness! These beans are really good!

As I mentioned a while back in an article about soft foods, I really like to eat pinto beans. They are a wonderful source of fiber and protein and a good substitute for meat. They are low in saturated fats and offer a source of manganese and folate along with being helpful in lowering HDL and LDL cholesterol. Besides the health benefits, they just taste good!

So, my husband brings home his little discovery and I decide that they might be good as a topping for a loaded potato. I baked a couple of potatoes, heated up the can of pinto beans and voila we had a meal!

Pinto Beans Latin Style

We sprinkled just a little bit of cheese on top and the results were absolutely delicious! The pinto beans are in a tomato sauce with onion, garlic, serrano peppers and just a touch of bacon. The flavor on top of the potato was really awesome!

I have decided that a can or two of these beans will now be a staple on my pantry shelves. There are so many ways that they can be served. Alone as a side dish is an obvious choice. I plan to add a can the next time I make chili because I think they will add a little kick to the dish. I also, think they might be really good if I make them into refried beans.

You might worry that the serrano pepper will make these pinto beans pretty hot. It is true that the serrano is hotter than the jalapeno but to be honest I didn't think these beans were too hot. I like spicy foods but I don't like the heat level to be much more than medium. Honestly, these beans had just the right amount of heat for my palate. They were a little hot but not so much that I had to grab water or wipe tears from my eyes. I wouldn't like that.

So, if you are looking for something new to add to your menu I suggest you give these pinto beans with a Latin style of flavoring a try. We liked them so much that we plan to try the other flavors that the company offers in this line called Cocina Latina.

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Soft Foods: Refried Beans

Need Soft Foods In Your Diet?

Refried Beans Public Domain Image From Wikimedia Commons

This week I will begin reviewing soft foods that can be prepared and eaten while going through the process of getting dentures. Before you receive your denture you will have your teeth removed and the gums are quite tender. Your dentist will recommend that you eat only soft foods for a while. Trust me, you will have no problem complying with his or her recommendation! Your gums are so tender at that point, you will not want to even think about having to chew food of any kind. The dilemma becomes what foods can you eat that are soft enough, yet nutritious enough for you to eat.

The first few days of my denture journey about all I could consume was ice cream and milkshakes. The cold felt really good on my swollen and tender gums. I knew that I could not remain on a strictly dairy diet and began to look at foods that would be easy to eat. Foods that were soft enough that they could be mashed or processed in my blender. I knew that it would be important to have a source of protein and fiber so my mind immediately went to beans. Refried beans became a staple in my diet for the first 2 1/2 months of my journey towards getting my new teeth.

Refried Beans Recipe 

Ingredients:

1 tblsp olive oil

1/2 medium onion

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp chili powder

1 16 oz can pinto beans

1/2 cup chicken broth

salt & pepper

Pinto Beans

Instructions:

Drain the beans in a strainer and rinse thoroughly, set aside. In sauce pan, heat olive oil. Saute the garlic and onion in the heated oil. Add chili powder and chicken broth, bring to a boil. Add beans and cook for 5 minutes until beans are soft. Use a potato masher to mash the beans until the desired consistency. Salt and pepper to taste.

A very easy and quick recipe for a soft food that you can add to your diet when soft foods are required. I would sometimes add a dollop of sour cream and some shredded cheese for extra flavor.

Of course, refried beans can be used in any diet as a substitute for meat. Pinto beans are a great source of protein, fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, potassium and iron.

Join me next week for another suggestion and recipe for soft foods.

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