One of the big concerns these days is about the rising cost of food (and fuel of course).
I hear it on the news and I hear it when I talk to my friends and family in America. I can empathize, as the prices in Europe have gone up too.

For years now we have relied on fresh, seasonal vegetables and pasta, rice and dried beans as our main source of sustenance for one main reason; the sinking Dollar vs. the strong Euro. We had to cut back to survive.

All in all, this hasn't been a bad thing. Meat is still enjoyed, although sparingly, and we still drink wonderful wine and eat local cheese. I've learned some amazing new recipes and had the chance to experiment with raw ingredients that I may not have bothered with before.
Such as dried beans.


© sara.atkins

Canned beans are easy, I know. You grab the can opener, open the can and you're done. But the texture of home cooked beans is so much better, not to mention how much cheaper it is to cook your own!
Also, home cooked beans can be frozen.

So my advice is to buy them in bulk (they have a shelf life of several years if kept free from moisture), cook them in bulk and freeze what you don't use. You'll be ready to go next time you decide to make chili or burritos or soup.

Here's an excellent guide from Whole Foods to familiarize yourself with the different varieties of beans and how to easily cook them.

I also like this guide to the different types of beans.