Recipe - Leather Britches Beans (Fodder Beans)

Green Beans
Salt And Pepper
Lard Or Bacon Grease
Water

String very full beans as you would for cooking, but do not break them.
Thread beans on twine, using just enough beans on each string for one or
two meals. Then drop them into a brine of One half cup coarse salt and one
gallon of water for 15 minutes. Drain on newspaper. The brine will keep
bugs away from your beans. Hang the strings of beans on wire or rope in a
dry place for at least three weeks. Make sure they are completely dry or
they will mold.

Prior to cooking the dried beans, pour lots of boiling water over the beans
and soak overnight. In the morning, wash the beans well and cover with
water in a pan. Cook for 2 hours; then add salt, lard or bacon grease, and
pepper. Finish cooking about 2 hours more, adding water as needed.

Source: "Mountain Measures" Junior League of Charleston, WV ed. 1974

billspa@icanect.net

Recipe by: Mrs. Estill Monk Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #725 by Bill
Spalding billspa@icanect.net on Aug 08, 1997