Rancho Gordo Beans and Bean Club

[Troutman]

Got some Royal Coronas soaking in a pot right now. Will post the results in a day or so. Love me some beans !!!

[SheilaAnn]

Troutman try this recipe…..

https://www.ranchogordo.com/blogs/recipes/baked-royal-corona-beans?_pos=1&_sid=8c7d1b04a&_ss=r

Shameless plug: this is my work.
Left to right: Steve Sando, my boss Delilah, my former biz partner Richie and chef even kleiman (recipe creator).

[Troutman]

SheilaAnn Not sure what’s happened to my Royal Coronas but during the soak their outer shell split open and the inner bean broke in half. First time I’ve cooked these, any suggestions as to why this is occurring?

[SheilaAnn]

Troutman …whoa! That’s never happened to me. And I make these beans often. fzxdoc thoughts?

Hot water? Soaked too long? I think we use these beans fast enough that an expiry date is not an option. I’ll ask D in the morning.

[Alan Brice]

I will throw on an extra rack of ribs to put at least 1/2 to 3/4 of them into the simmering pot. Add 1/4 cup of ACV to release the calcium fr the bones. Did I say Bones?!? He could make a wicked pot of beans. Dark beer, hot peppers, n bourbon all becomes flavor! Takes it to another level. Never knew beans could taste soo good. Sure miss ol' Bonesy.

[Porkies]

Is this a subscription service? If so, how much? I doubt I can afford to be in the bean club, but thought I would check. I saw it is 50ish to 60 bucks for shipping, and assume the rest of the cost is decided upon what you choose (and maybe the sub fee)?

[yakima]

The ranchogordo.com site provides details. I am on a waitlist for the subscription. About 14 months so far.

But, don't really need a subscription. Order $50 of product, get free shipping. Do that couple times a year, probably have more beans than you use. I have not worked out the comparative economics. The quarterly subscription is likely cheaper on a per pound basis, but results in a lot of beans.

[DaveD]

yakima I drew exactly the same conclusion. Couple orders a year with 6-8 bags of beans each is probably good for us. Just us two after all...

[ecowper]

I had a subscription and cancelled it. 2 reasons. First, I was getting more beans than I could use in 3 months. Second, I was getting things I didn’t necessarily want. I don’t need 7 different types of heritage black beans. I found with RG that I love Marcellas, Flageolets, Pinquitos, and Lentils. The rest were going unused. Now I order what I need, make sure my order hits $50 for free shipping, and I’m happy.

[Troutman]

SheilaAnn and fzxdoc I'm open to suggestions. Was going to do a Royal Corona bean recipe last night so about noon time I decided to soak my beans as usual in enough cool water water to cover them and let them sit on the counter. After about 4 hours I went to check to see if they were soft enough (I don't like a long soak) and found the casings shriveled with some split open. The inner bean also began to split apart. I don't see any way these with stand up to cooking much less boiling. Any ideas or suggestions? I have some other white beans I'm going to substitute for today's cook. I think I may call Rancho Gordo to get their take on this. I purchased these about 6 or so months ago?

[Troutman]

Ended up using the Marcella white’s instead, delicious. I’ll do a full write up on the recipe to follow. Didn’t mean to disrespect RG, their beans are usually delish!!

[ecowper]

Troutman Steve, the Marcella’s are amazing! That said, as DaveD says, that lady clearly didn’t know beans

[SheilaAnn]

I asked my boss and she hasn’t heard of that happening.

Regarding calling: wow! Did you get a name by chance? Definitely send them a picture.

I’m glad the Marcella’s worked out.

[Mosca]

Wow THAT was fast! Placed the order late Wednesday, beans arrived early Saturday!

Tarbais, pinquitos, midnight blacks, yellow eye beans, Christmas limas, negro de varas, black eyed peas, and pintos.

[fzxdoc]

Got some Royal Coronas soaking in a pot right now. Will post the results in a day or so. Love me some beans !!!

I never soak any RG beans. Steve Sando says it's not only not necessary, saying that the beans can sprout with soaking.

I had this happen once with another RG bean (can't remember which one)--I didn't soak; it happened when rinsing. The skins became wrinkly. I didn't like the looks of them so I tossed them. They were about 6 months past their 2 year Best By date.

And P.S. I've used Royal Coronas a lot. Never had a problem with them.

P.S. #2. I backed my RG subscription down to the Lite option, which is twice a year. I enjoy getting it, and enjoy supporting the site. Is it necessary? No, but I like receiving the extra goodies and the occasional unusual beans that are not available on the website. Plus the free shipping is enough for me to (hopefully lightly) add to my collection a couple of times a year. Steve Sando mentioned once that he he started the RG Bean Club on a whim, to poke fun at the wine clubs that are so pervasive, but by golly it caught on. A bean club. Who knew.

K.

[yakima]

K, welcome back. You have been MIA.
P.

[fzxdoc]

Visiting family over the holidays, yakima .

K.

[klflowers]

I didn’t know there was a lite option. I need to check into that.

[klflowers]

No in process pics but the black eye peas on this plate are RG. They are excellent.

[Bkhuna]

New Years dinner. I had Carolina Gold rice instead of the sweet potatoes. Love all manner of cowpeas and hamhocks.

[Alan Brice]

Everything on that plate is/was excellent!

[PGH_RAM]

I got a great birthday present from my wife. Although it dawns on me that the gift may have been a little self-serving. ;-p

[ecowper]

Here I was thinking I don't need the beans, just the book. So, I went to Amazon and the darn book is $50. So, now I'm buying the whole package on RG just to get the book LOL

[Alan Brice]

ecowper I went to RGwebsite and used my complementary quarterly free ship to get the book shipped for a total of $23.66. Just another perk for being an RG beaner.

[ecowper]

Alan Brice fortunately the beans in the gift box are ones I like and it’s over $50, so free shipping!

[Mosca]

ecowper’s post about the lentil soup, along with RG’s email informing me that scarlet runners are back in stock, has me looking at buying some lentils. RG has Black Caviar, French Green, and the Puglia that Eric used in his soup. Has anyone any insight on the differences? I’m pretty confident I could whip up something delicious with any of them, but I’d still like to hear what folks got going on.

[fzxdoc]

Here's a nice video on cooking Christmas Limas and navy beans. Christmas Limas at the 1:11 mile marker:

I don't soak Rancho Gordo beans but many here do. The video reinforces how quickly the Christmas Lima cooks compared to, say, the Marcella cannellini bean.

Kathryn

[ecowper]

Mosca I stock all 3 types of Rancho Gordo lentils and use them for different things. I took a picture to illustrate the differences.

French Green lentils are traditional Puy Lentils that are used in French cooking. I use them for any typical Mediterranean or European lentil dish. They are smaller than typical green lentils, have a thin skin and a firm interior. The flavor is nutty.

Puglia lentils are traditional in Puglia region of Italy, the heel of the boot. I will use them for Italian cooking as well as any time a recipe calls for brown lentils or Pardina lentils (Spanish). Also a nutty flavor. And smaller than traditional brown lentils.

Black Caviar lentils are very small and look similar to black caviar when cooked. I have used them for cold lentil salad as well as a dish involving yogurt and spinach that was pretty darn good. The skin is very thin and almost melts in your mouth.

Here's a couple recipes I've cooked

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/recipes-technique-food-cooking/pasta-noodle-recipes/1423360-pugliese-pasta-and-lentils

https://www.ranchogordo.com/blogs/recipes/lentils-folded-into-yogurt-spinach-and-basil?_pos=8&_sid=476511086&_ss=r

Here's the picture, as promised ..... from left to right: Puy Lentils, Black Caviar Lentils, Puglia Lentils

[Mosca]

Thank you, that is exactly what I wanted to know!

[fzxdoc]

I got some masoor dal lentils in my RG Club box mid-2023 shipment. I wonder if they'll start carrying them too.

K.

[yakima]

Good Mother Stallard beans back in stock, per email today.

[Jessterr]

Looks like they’re sold out already. 😞

[yakima]

Wow.
So, these beans must be 2023 harvest. Based on here in Central Washington, they are harvested in summer/fall, dried, cleaned, packaged, and available about 6 months after harvest.
I wonder how many here ordered?
Maybe SheilaAnn can set up a Bad Mother Stallard black market!

[SheilaAnn]

yakima we JUST got a shipment in. I’m processing the invoice tomorrow. I did not see this bean on the shelf or else I would have pounced (something new for me). Let me ask.

[fzxdoc]

I ordered 4 lbs of the Good Mother Stallards as soon as I got the email. They go fast, both from the website and in our house once they arrive. They're really delicious, but I'm sure that part of my enthusiasm for them is the thrill of the hunt.

I saw in the email that the Rancho Gordo Bean Club members will be getting some Good Mother Stallards in the upcoming delivery. Yippee.

Kathryn

[klflowers]

That's good news. I didn't order any because I have so many right now, and as soon as they sold out I regretted my decision

[yakima]

Children,
I received bean club acceptance yesterday. Guess I will do it for awhile. Been on standby about 19 months.
fzxdoc has mentioned bean club lite. I can't find that. Perhaps it shows up when in actual act of purchasing?

It may have been Will Rogers who said that he wasn't sure he really wanted to join a club that would let him be a member.

[SheilaAnn]

Wow! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Which reminds me, I just found out the other day the wait list is roughly 30K.

[yakima]

@SheilaAnn,
So, set up a black market, reselling bean club membership. Will give u 20%!!!

[DaveD]

We just don't eat enough beans to justify trying to get into the club... we're just fine ordering half a dozen bags every so often.

[klflowers]

I'm trying to give it up but I am addicted. I am drowning in beans.