Pinto Beans and Parmesan Polenta

Oftentimes, when I am cooking, I am aware that it's just for myself. This means that I take part in the time-honored tradition of making a big batch of something and then eating it for days... and days. Now, if I love the food, I am not going to complain about this. This is a food I love. I will eat it ecstatically the night I cook it, happily the next day, and awkwardly straight from the fridge, standing at the counter.

Mind you, this is not the sort of meal you cook quickly after work - it requires planning. First of all, you have to soak the beans overnight. That's right, you get dried beans and you soak them. You can do this. Do not, regardless of what the bag tells you, convince yourself that boiling the water and then letting them sit for an hour actually cuts it. It does not. You will realize this at some point mid-bite, and you will be sad, so just take my word for it. Secondly, it requires the patience of a saint. You have to let it sit on the stove for at least an hour and a half at an extremely low heat to really get the flavor right. Patience is a virtue (not, interestingly enough, "avert you," as I so firmly believed as a child... and possibly teenager... moving right along).

The payoff of this patience is a really flavorful vegetarian dish that is even good for you.

Maybe a bit sneaky

Things I have learned: my grandfather says that he doesn't like onions or garlic, but will inhale food laced with both of these things (in no small quantity) as long as they aren't pointed out. In fact, he will ask for seconds and wonder why there wasn't more of the (garlic and onion flavored) sauce. Good to know. Mind you, I've been doing this to people for years. If I've cooked for you with any frequency and you have some extremely common ingredient that you say you don't like (but are not allergic to), I've fed it to you. In my defense, no one has ever noticed or complained. In fact, there's often an abundance of yummy noises.

Of course, this makes me a huge hypocrite as I would bring about a swift end to anyone trying to slip fish into my dinner. Though who knows? Maybe someone already has.

Back to my original point: dinner was tasty and considered edible by several different palate persuasions. It's just a simple chicken dish with a carrot orzo, but it really went fantastically and is a good family meal.

Recipes!