As of now I have 5 crops of beans in my possession — a tad over 9 lbs. Here they are in their original packaging.
Jennifer 1.5lb
Lee 1.9lb
Zoe 2.25lb
Rosa/Elena 1.25lb
Guy 2.2lb
Today's Harvesting Update
Bean Bag
So this came in the mail today from Lee.
Lee totally upped the bean stakes with this fancy bag. Not that is is a competition or anything, but still. Pretty swanky bag of beans, eh?
Cassoulet: A French Obsession by Kate Hill
Enter the world of cassoulet through the eyes of my favorite expert in all things Gascon, Kate Hill. Here it is: her much awaited book, Cassoulet: A French Obsession.
Beans on the 2 Train
Guess what this bag contains.
Yup, two small frozen porchette and two pounds of artist-grown Tarbais beans.
I think I can safely claim that this is the only bag on the uptown 2 train that contains two pounds of dried French Tarbais beans grown in Pennsylvania by an Italian artist.
Gathering Beans From the Growers
If you're in the city, the easiest and most fun way would be to meet me somewhere for a pass off. That way you can witness my delight when I see your beans for the first time. I work near Wall Street and I live in Harlem.
Send a bean emissary
Ship them to me
Cassole
So I bought one of these from D'Artagnan
It's not the funnel shaped ones I love but those are quite a bit more fragile and expensive to ship from France. This one came practically over night from NJ (or somewhere).
It'll hold 8 quarts which is enough cassoulet for 12 people.
Jennifer Asks
“I’m planning on making cassoulet for family dinner before thanksgiving. What’s a good source to look at?”Read More
2 lb 13 oz
I'm calling the beans dry.Read More
Beans Have Been Drying
When I bite a bean it shatters nicely, not chewy or leathery.Read More
Last of Susan's Beans
We had a hard frost this weekend so my eleven year old and I harvested the rest of the beans with flashlights in the dark (a fun adventure!), all which are drying on platters now. (I had to cull out a few moldy beans so now I am storing them all on platters until Elaine calls them to herself.) Can't wait for the cassoulet party!