Recipe for Benee's Bean Bake

Danjaruz Dietary Delight:

Benee's Bean Bake


Ingredients:
(I used cans because they are quicker, but you may substitute all canned beans for fresh beans if time allows. I use Goya brand because I love Goya)

1 can Goya Gandules (pigeon peas)
1 can Goya Red Kidney Beans
1 can Goya Yellow cut corn
1 can Goya Frijoles Negros (Black Beans)
1 medium box of elbow macaroni
2 table spoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons Goya All Purpose Seasoning or Lawry's Seasoned Salt
1 table spoon Ground black pepper
few pinches of salt
Your favorite hot sauce (I recommend Texas Pete)
1 block extra sharp cheddar cheese (or you can buy pre-shredded cheese)
(for "italian stove top version, include 1 cup tomatoe sauce of your choosing, and 1 cup sliced mushrooms)
1 cup skim milk
Cooking spray, butter
Plain Bread crumbs

Preparation:

Drain all liquids from bean cans with the exception of the Red Kidney beans. Use that juice to cook all beans. In medium sauce pan, combine all beans over medium flame. Add hot sauce, All purpose seasoning and black pepper. Mix and simmer until beans are soft. Water will boil and simmer along the way, and thats good. Make sure you cover the pot while simmering, keeps all the bean flavor inside. Dont overcook beans, because that would suck.

At the same time, in another pot, bring water, salt, and olive oil to a boil. Add macaroni and reduce flame to medium. Still occasionally until pasta is soft.

While this is all going on, if necessary, shred the cheese and have it ready.

When pasta and beans are done cooking, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a medium casserole bowl with cooking spray/butter. Strain pasta and beans. layer pasta, beans, and cheese until bowl is full. Leave about 1/2 inch at the top. Shred more cheese on top. Pour skim milk into bowl around the macaroni and beans and cheese. Finally, sprinle plain bread crumbs over top of the whole concoction.

Cover casserole bowl with top and cook for 30-45 minutes, or until cheese bubbles and begins to brown. Voila, Benee's Bean Bake


Bean Bake Italiano

Follow all directions in above recipe until you are finished cooking beans and pasta. Make sure you cook macaroni in larger saucepan. Strain beans and pasta. Pour beans into pasta sauce pan and mix. Keep flame on medium-low. Add pasta sauce and mushrooms and let come to a simmmer. After pasta sauce has boiled for about 7-10 minutes, shred cheese over the top and cover. Turn off flame and let sit for a few minutes until cheese melts in.