Beans

I didn't have a good reaction to the woman who told Obama that she was afraid she and her husband would have to go back to eating beans and franks in their retirement years and it wasn't what she planned.

I thought kind of old not to know that most things in life don't go as we planned. Get over it.

Second, cut the man a break, he isn't the second coming, he's a politician. That is saying a mouthful.

Girl friend looked like she could use a few meals of beans. Forget the franks, they will kill you quick, if you eat them on a regular basis.

Beans combined with grain are a perfect protein and eaten the world over. Why shouldn't Americans, especially older Americans, eat this healthy food? Inexpensive, delicious and healthy. Too much to ask.

Anyway, here is one of the tastiest and simplest black bean recipes that I know of.

Buy a bag of black beans. Wash them, then soak them, overnight if you cook in the morning or put them on to soak in the morning to cook in the evening.

Peel (by smashing with the flat side of a kitchen knife) and finely dice an entire head of garlic.

Pour the water off the beans, rinse, and put in a heavy pot, then cover with water and put in that much water again. Add the garlic, a few tablespoons of good olive oil, add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper (I use cayenne).

After about two hours mash a couple of bean against the side of the pot using the back of a spoon. If they mash, then mash some more until the soup thickens. (I forgot to tell you to add water as needed.) The garlic should also mash at this stage. Taste for salt.

You can also season with a little ground cumin and fresh or dried thyme. Go light on the thyme, it is flavorful.

Make a pot of rice.

Set the table, put the beans in a large bowl, put the rice in another bowl. Set some sour cream on the table in a small bowl, chopped onion, cilantro or parsley if you like. Eat.