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Keith Van Gasken
Picnic Beans
My parents were consummate party throwers. Nothing wild, mind you, but they were either hosting or attending get-togethers sometimes 2-3 times a month. Backyard cookouts, company picnics, church pot lucks, beach parties, kids’ birthdays and just plain old ‘hey, lets have a party’ were occasions to get everyone together and ‘bring a covered dish.’
A staple of these food-fests was something called Picnic Beans. Picnic Beans were pretty basic eats: brown some meat, then empty your pantry of canned beans, toss in some green and lima beans, add some condiments, and bake. This dish would feed the masses, was gently spiced, slightly sweet so the kids liked it, and was just plain delicious.
Below you’ll find two variations of Picnic Beans that come close to the original, yet remain “in the box.” The first is appropriate for the Decision-Free® diet, the second for Healthy Solutions® and Phase 2.
A quick note on preparation. I think that baking this dish brings out its true flavors and is worth the extra time. If you choose, microwaving is fine.
| Decision-Free Picnic Beans 1 HMR Turkey Chili with Beans Entree 1 HMR Five-Bean Casserole Entree ½ tablespoon ketchup 1 teaspoon mustard Dash Tabasco® (optional) 1 packet Splenda® (optional) Non-stick spray Mix everything together. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour the bean mixture into the baking dish and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20-30 minutes. Alternately, microwave until warm. Click here for a printable version of this recipe. |
| Healthy Solutions Picnic Beans 1 HMR Turkey Chili with Beans Entree 1 HMR Five-Bean Casserole Entree ½ cup lima beans (frozen is fine*) ½ cup cut green beans (frozen is fine*) *If using frozen lima beans or green beans, prepare according to package directions. ½ cup diced tomatoes ¼ cup diced onion 1 tablespoon ketchup 1 tablespoon prepared mustard (yellow or spicy) Dash Tabasco (optional) 1 packet Splenda (optional) Non-stick spray Mix everything together. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour the bean mixture into the baking dish and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30-45 minutes. Alternately, microwave until warm. Click here for a printable version of this recipe. |
About the Author
Keith Van Gasken began obesity treatment in a clinic setting in 1982, and has been with HMR since 1992. Roles have included health educator & mentor, as well as program and product development, with a special affinity for product & recipe development. He has maintained a 100-lb. weight loss since 1982.
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I love beans and this looks like a delicious dish. Thanks!
by jeff134 on 04/05/2012
Hope you both enjoy this dish as much as I have. It just brings back memories of summers at dusk, food on the table, and lots of friends around.
by KeithVanGasken on 10/19/2011
Keith, I love baked beans, so this recipe sounds delicious! Thanks!
by sailGirl on 10/19/2011
Great recipes and ideas...especially for the upcoming cold winter :)
by KimG on 10/18/2011
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