beans,lentils and brown rice

 Great recipe for dip or as a side dish:

1 can garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained and rinsed well

1 can red or pink kidney beans, drained and rinsed well

1 can of either: navy beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas, cannelloni beans, your choice of any other bean, drained and rinsed well

1 container of salsa (I like HOT, but use mild or medium as you prefer)

1 bunch scallions, chopped

1/4 cup lemon juice

One package pepper jack cheese (I use Sargento's, I've also used the 3 cheese blend)

Put beans in food processor with salsa and lemon juice and run it.  May need to add some water if it gets too thick.  (I've also used salt free msg free chicken broth!)

Remove in layers into bowl: bean mix,  chopped scallions, bean mix, chopped scallions.

 Chill.

When ready to use:  spoon out how much you want, top with cheese, mix in cheese and microwave for about 1 minute - till cheese melts.   Use as a dip or a side dish.

I love this soup - I could eat it every day (even in the summer).

http://www.closetcooking.com/2009/01/spinach-white-bean-and-turkey-sausage.html

Deb W.

 Depending on your palate something like Dal is great with lentils or chickpeas. There are lots of great things you can do based on Indian cuisine.  I love a nice fragrant and spicy dal served on brown rice. VERY filling and may cause some gas if you aren't used to eating lots of fiber LOL

I also love Mexican cuisine and makes black bean burritos, quesadillas, refried beans etc.

I'm afraid I don't often use recipes I just know the flavors I like and mix it up 

You can use any beans you like in a garlic, olive oil, broccoli or spinach, chicken broth, crushed red pepper pasta sauce.  I love that and the beans add some nice protein.

I was veggie for a long while so I learned to think of beans as a staple food and try to use them in place of things like ground beef when DH will let me 

The bean dip is like one I make but I usually use canned refried beans as I have no food processor.I could eat beans and salsa with a spoon I don't even need chips

The sausage spinach soup looks like something you'd get at Olive Garden I will try that one for sure.

I don't know what Dal is but I will look for it.I am new to Indian cuisine.I've tried a bunch of those Kitchens of India pouches and really liked most of them.I love that there's a long list of spices on the label and nothing that doesn't sound like it grows in the ground. My family is stubborn so I have to give it a made up name to get them to try it.I served tofu lasagne once and nobody even noticed.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.