Bean Pie aka Mock Pecan Pie

I’d heard over the years about bean pie . I’d never had it and there are few places around here that still sell it. It was very popular during the 70’s and various Black Muslim groups would sell it at their businesses and peddle it to other Mom and Pop businesses.

While away in college at an HBCU my brother would buy slices when the bean pie man came to their dorm late at night and they were hungry. Of course this was over 30 years ago. The college was out in the sticks, few students had cars, and the sidewalks of the city were pulled in by 6p.m.

The way I actually came upon the recipe is that I’d also heard about mock pecan pie. After finding that recipe it was pretty much the same as the bean pie recipe.
I used this recipe . There are variations to the recipe. Some use northern white beans,limas,blackeyed peas. Some add pecans to the top of the bean pie before cooking. (How can it still be mock pecan pie if it has pecans?) Since I wanted mine to look more like a pecan pie I used the pinto beans.

I placed the pintos into the food processor to be mashed.

No picture of the mashed beans. I found the photo somewhat disturbing. Unless you’re a fan of hummus you don’t want to see it.

I added all of the other ingredients and poured the mixture into a pie shell that I’d cooked for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

The pie cooked for 60 minutes at 350 degrees. The kitchen smelled so delightful.

After removing it, I was amazed at the beautiful, golden brown ,color.





I allowed it to cool and then cut a slice.

It has more of a sweet potato pie taste. The seasonings were just right. The crust was just right. BUT, the filling had sort of a starchy or chalky quality to it. It was good but just not as smooth as I would have liked it. I plan to let my brother taste it and see what he says.

THAT'S IT***

THIS JUST IN. Brother says the pie was good just a little too sweet. Other than that, it passes the test.

SWEET POTATO PIE



Potatoes left after using 5 for a pie

 I bought sweet potatoes, bell peppers and pears the last time I went to the Bessemer Flea Market.
The potatoes were a little small so I used about 5 to make a sweet potato pie, something I'd been craving for a while.
This is the recipe from recipezaar

SWEET POTATO PIE

Note: This recipe is very similar to the one I used when I made the bean pie

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup sugar   (I also added 1/4 c. brown sugar)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 c. evaporated milk (I used almond milk)

2 c. mashed sweet potatoes

1 tsp. vanilla extract

                                                                                         1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

1 9" unbaked pie shell

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.

2.Add eggs. Mix well.

3. Add milk, sweet potatoes, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well.

4.Pour into pie shell

5.Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes

6. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until pie tests done.

7. Cool. Store in refrigerator.



I used this to boil the potatoes




After the potatoes were done, I placed them in a colander with ice to cool them quicker.




These are the ingredients and tools I used.




It was time for Family Feud so I took a one hour break.




The pie shell was thawed 15 minutes, pricked, and placed in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes




Sweet potato filling. The white flecks are margarine.




Rim of crust covered with foil to keep it from browning too fast.



The finished sweet potato pie fresh from the oven.

Compare this BEAN PIE and potato pie. They look a lot alike and have the same consistency.

It was delicious. Craving satisfied.
That's it***

Z's RESTAURANT

I try to patronize small businesses as much as possible. I travel  down First Avenue  frequently on my way to the opposite side of town since I avoid freeways. Z's Restaurant is located on the 17th Street side. If I'm not mistaken they recently took on unused space next to their restaurant and added it to their own.

This photo taken from my car as I was leaving. You may or may not notice my radio antenna

The room below is what I continued to catch glimpses of as I  drove down 1st Avenue.  The sophisticated furniture and window treatments caught my eye and made me want to go inside and get a better look.



I sat by the window to eat and watch the foot and motor traffic



I placed my order at the steam table located  just past the entrance.  The serving person as well as the owner were cordial, friendly and behaved in the way I expected to be treated. It is the reason I prefer to  shop at privately owned businesses. Since it is their livelihood and not a chain store, they are more apt to treat customers in an appreciable way than  a franchised chain.

In another nook of the restaurant was this dining area. The table was set with chargers, plates, napkins inside napkin rings and a general appearance of elegance. Various ethnic art prints and sculptures were displayed throughout the establishment. The soft music in the background added to the ambiance.



Condiment Station



After placing my meal on the table the server  indicated the condiment station where I could get anything  I might need to enhance the flavor of my meal.



This looks yummy



ON the takeout menu  was written:
"Z'S is proud of a healthy, pork-free menu for health-conscience eaters while creating a great gathering place for everyday people, meetings, parties and celebrations!"

Z's lists it's desserts as AWARD WINNING. Among the homemade sweetness is Vanilla Bean Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, Pound Cake, Banana Pudding, Peach Cobbler and Z's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. I opted not to order dessert.

My meal consisted of steamed cabbage, green beans with white potatoes, stuffing w/ cranberry sauce (I'd been wanting stuffing for a long time) 2 small cornbread muffins and water to drink.  The food was not overly seasoned and consisted of generous portions. So generous were the portions that I didn't finish it all and made me glad I hadn't ordered a dessert.

Z's offers call in and pick up service 205-250-6288 and also serves breakfast.

I've kept my take out menu so that I can place a take out of collard greens, field peas and candied yams on one of those days I have a hankering for some home cooked food.

THAT'S IT***

beat·nik/ˈbētnik/
Noun: A young person in the 1950s and early 1960s belonging to a subculture associated with the beat generation.

A play on words with beet and beat. In this case it has to do with a cake.  I'd seen  it first at Tiger in a Jar. Intrigued, I had to try it.   There are many recipes that use veggies in an unusual way. Zucchini bread, bean pie, banana bread, carrot cake, sweet potato pie (my favorite) and the list goes on.

I used the recipe at Southern Food About.


BEETNIK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Cook Time: 30 minutes


Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•1 1/2 teaspoons soda
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1 1/2 cups sugar
•1/2 cup cocoa powder
•3 large eggs, beaten
•1 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, Canola or corn oil
•1 1/2 cups grated cooked beets
•2 teaspoons vanilla
•powdered sugar, optional

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine flour, soda, salt, sugar and cocoa in a bowl; set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs and oil. Beat in vanilla and continue beating until well blended. Slowly beat in dry ingredients until well mixed; stir in beets. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25 to 35 minutes, or until cake bounces back when touched lightly with finger.

Cool in pan on a rack. Frost cooled cake or dust with powdered sugar.

As usual, I gathered the crew so I'd make sure I had all I needed before getting started. 

In a bowl I placed the dry ingredients: sifted flour,soda,salt and cocoa powder. I put it aside.

I bought two cans of beets and needed both.

The pureed beets are  such a pretty color.

After combining and mixing everything thoroughly I poured it into a 9x13 inch greased and floured pan. The batter has just a slight pinkish tinge to it.

After baking at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes I had a wonderful cake. I wish I could show you the cake before I cut it but, the aroma, anxiousness and salivating took over.

This cake was scrumptous. There was no taste of beets. This might be a good way to get in those veggies that some of us aren't that fond of.

I was so proud of myself because I'd actually made a cake from SCRATCH!

Whoopee!

I didn't eat the whole thing. I shared a couple of slices with my nephew whom I didn't tell that it contained beets until after he'd eaten it. He too said it was delicious and said he was glad I didn't tell him ahead of time that it had been made with beets. 

 The rest of the cake has been cut in squares, wrapped and placed in a ziplock bag in the freezer.

I understand that there is also an alternate recipe where beets take the place of carrots in the cake and some of the beet juice is used to color the cream cheese frosting.

That's It***