1. Refried black beans

It takes about 1.5 hours to cook black beans from dry, if you have a pressure cooker you can do it even more quickly. You can also plan ahead and use a crock pot -- this is a great thing to put on in the morning and have done when you dome home.

To make refried beans, cook beans from dry until they are soft, then drain and wash them. This helps to prevent gas.

Dry roast cumin seed and grind in spice grinder with some dried chilies. Saute some onion.

Roughly mash the beans, combine them with sauteed onion. Add the spices, and salt, and lime juice, while turning in the pan until done.

Serve with a little cheese on top, some hot sauce, and in Swampy's case, a tortilla or two.


2. Cabbage with cinnamon and turmeric.

One of those goofy health magazines had an article on common foods that are good for you, that you never think to eat. Cabbage and cinnamon were both on that list.

Heat oil in pan, add spices, gently roast them in the oil for a minute or two. Then add the cabbage and cover until done, adding salt to taste. Trivially easy.

Since this really isn't a healthy meal, it goes in Swampy's journal

1. Basa (Fish) Francesca

Basa is very much like catfish, its a mild white fish from the Mekong river. Its very inexpensive, too. This
fish was $5 / lb and is every bit as good as much higher priced fish.

Fish francesca is fish fried in an egg batter. The Italians in Boston's North End introduced Swampy to the concept.

     1 egg, beaten
     1 c soda water (or beer)
     flour
     baking powder
     salt / pepper

     Combine, add additional flour to get texture reasonable.

2. Buttered broccolini and parsips

    1 parsnip, roughly chopped
    3 sprigs broccolini
    1/4 onion chopped

    Saute parsnip in 1-2T butter with a little salt, pepper, and oregano. Cover fully and on low heat let cook slowly until 1/2 done, then add broccolini (and some garlic, if you like).

3. lentil salad (leftover from yesterday)

    cook lentils with a little liquid smoke until broken and drain
    saute 1/4 chopped in olive oil. add 1/2 c raw almonds
        cook on medium heat until almonds are roasted.
     then add 1t dried oregano, hot pepper flakes, and some rice vinegar
     cook 1 minute more than lower heat
     fold in lentils
     make some pasta and fold that in (if desired...Swampy loves the extra carbs).

Or maybe not. How does Swampy actually know he is alive? Maybe he is part of a existentialist dream.

Several people have asked Swampy how his mother is doing. The answer is that she seems to be well. Swampy's smarter and better looking older borther came to visit, and for once the two of them got along. Swampy's brother cleaned the garage a bit, took the cars in for oil changes, and did other useful tasks.

Swampy's mom is going to be a grandmother in September. It is her first grandchild, and she is got to take Swampy's brother out shopping. It is not known if it is a boy or a girl (Swampy thought it was, but he was mistaken).