Join the Facebook Event Page!

Hi friends - make sure you check out our Facebook event page. Sign up and invite your friends!

5 Tips for a good Rice & Beans experience!

These are some things I learned last year - hope they are helpful!

1. Prepare your kitchen - Before March 1st actually rolls around, make sure you buy the right items and know how to cook rice and beans. Don't let the month sneak up on ya!
2. Buy in bulk and soak - Stoves are shrinking in the United States and fridges are growing. We are preparing less from scratch and more from processed food packages from factories. But in order to have a successful and thrifty month - I recommend buying rice and beans in bulk. You'll then need to soak the dry beans overnight. A little extra time - but it reduces the strain on your wallet instead of buying canned beans.
3. Rinse your beans - Many fear the dreaded effect of the mighty bean - intestinal gas. My wife and I heard from a friend last year that if you rinse your beans after soaking, and then again after boiling - you'll eleminate most of the intestinal gas. The reality is for Erin and I we don't encounter any gas now with this method.
4. Do it in community - You'll do much better if you have friends or family along for the journey. If you really are stepping out entirely alone - join us online on our Facebook group and Facebook Event Page!
5. Remember why you do it - When you get those cravings as you are detoxing from your modern diet full of unhealthy addictions - watch the video of Sauda. The BBC just posted an article about rising food costs worldwide. Remember those that are vulnerable. Remember the poor and hungry that you will impact with your choices.

Sauda's Story - Your Impact last year on a girl in Tanzania

This March, Lahash is inviting you participate with us in Rice & Beans Month. Here is the story of how the life of one girl was impacted in Dodoma, Tanzania. For more information visit EatRiceAndBeans.com.

Dried Beans 101

For any of you that are new to dried beans or could use a refresher, below are some basic tips on cooking dried beans from an Oregonian article.

• Rinse dried beans and pick through them, discarding any shriveled, wizened, broken or generally icky-looking beans, and any dirt clods or stones (yes, it is common to find at least one pebble in a package of dried beans).
• The purpose of soaking beans is to reduce the substance that causes gas. After you soak the beans, be sure to discard the soaking water and rinse the beans thoroughly.
• There are two ways to soak beans. For the overnight method, soak 1 pound of beans in 10 cups of cold water for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours in a cool place. If it's hot in your kitchen, refrigerate the beans so they don't start to ferment.
• To "quick soak" the beans, place them in a pot, cover with several inches of water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand for one hour. Drain off the liquid, rinse and proceed with cooking the beans.
• When cooking beans, cover them by at least 3 inches with cold water. Bring to a boil, skim off any foam, then reduce to a simmer and let the beans cook for one or two hours, or until tender.
• Conventional wisdom says not to add salt to beans while they cook because it can toughen the skin, making it take longer for the beans to become tender. However, the prevailing wisdom says it's not salt but acid that's the culprit, so add any vinegar, wine, lemon or tomatoes when the beans are almost done.
• To freeze the beans, pack them in containers, such as canning jars, in portions you're most likely to use. You don't want to have to defrost 6 cups of beans when you only need 2 cups. Portions of 1 1/2 cups are convenient because they can be used in place of 15-ounce cans. Cover the beans in cooking liquid to keep them from drying out, seal, label and freeze.
• To defrost frozen beans, put them in the fridge the night before you need them. Alternatively, you can defrost them in the microwave or under cold running water.

Rice and Beans Month 2011

Despite how startling it is to already be in December, we are in fact nearly into 2011. I love lists of all types and on my mental list of events that changed me in 2010, my involvement with Lahash and Rice and Beans month nears the top.

Expect to see more information here as we count down to Rice and Beans Month. Also, make sure to check the website, Lahash and your mailboxes if you get the Hope is Alive newsletter!

We'd love to hear form you! Let us know if you plan to participate in 2011, would like to help, or have stories to share from 2010.

Also, don't miss Leisha's blog post about how your participation last year shared with our East African community.

A Month of Rice and Beans with the Haaks

I've loved hearing people's responses as they finished out the month -- especially some of the younger participants. Below is another guest post from the Haak family based on their experiences from the month. You can read more about it at their blog: http://haakinitup.blogspot.com/

Quotes from my family courtesy of their month-long rice and beans "torture."


"What gross thing are you making for dinner tonight?"


"Open mouth. Put food in. Close mouth....yes, you do have to chew it."


"Mommy, thish is just too weird!"


"Do we really have to be Solitaire?" (translated..do we have to stand in solidarity?)


"Wow mom! This one actually tastes good!! Do kids in Africa get this one?"


"Can we just eat this one for the rest of the month?"

(Day 3 of 31) "Is the month over yet? I need pizza."

(In reference to the one above) "Mom, I've had this one a lot. Do you have another kind?" (speaking of rice)

"Can't we just send them money, so they can buy something that tastes better?"

"Next month, can we eat hot dogs every night?"

I am laughing and groaning as I remember and write. I've never had more complaints and near rebellion at dinner time by my children as I have this month. But, I am also really excited that we did discover some new recipes that Everyone really liked! Yes, we had a few gagging sessions and "if you throw that up, you'll clean it up!" "talks" at the table. My 3 year old (who amazingly has complained the least) has gone to bed with very little to eat more nights than I can count. Yet, he has shown the most excitement at the prospect of sending money to other children.

I pray my children will have learned something from this whole exercise...most of all thankfulness and an awareness of others around them.

If LAHASH does this again next year, we'll be right there with them.

I think we'll celebrate with Pizza and Cake when the month is at end.

Congratulations everyone! & a celebration dinner in Portland!

Congratulations to everyone around the world on the completion of Rice & Beans month! We were so glad to do this event together with you, and hope it has been meaningful with lots of lasting memories. Please enjoy a celebration day today with family and friends. It's good to celebrate!

For those in Portland, Oregon, we invite you to join us tonight (April 1st - no fooling) for a celebration dinner at McMenamins (Kennedy School) in the Courtyard Restaurant.

We'll be there from about 5 PM to 8 PM tonight. Come join our large table for a celebration and good memories!

5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97211