Yankee White Bean (with Chicken)

Yankee White Bean
(with Chicken)

We use three special types of beans:

Yankee or Navy Beans: So called because, as a rich, convenient source of protein and carbohydrates, the U.S. Navy has used these beans as a staple food for servicemen and women since the mid-1800s. Yankee Beans are small and white with a subtle flavor that blends beautifully with our soups.

Cannellini Beans - Italian by way of Argentina: First cultivated in Argentina by Italian immigrants, the nutty-flavored, white Cannellini bean looks like a kidney bean in size and shape. They are very popular in Italy, especially in Tuscany.

Catherine de Medici, daughter of the wealthy Medici family from Tuscany, was sent to France in 1533 at age 14 to marry the future King of France. It is said (mostly by Italians) that Catherine, along with the chefs she brought from Tuscany, greatly influenced French classic cuisine. Being true to her Tuscan roots, she loved beans and brought these very same cannellini beans to the French court, which then inspired the creation of the classic French dish: cassoulet.

A 'New World' Original wows Europe: The Great Northern Bean, also part of the white bean family, was grown in the Americas centuries before the arrival of Europeans and quickly hitched a ride to Europe where it became an instant hit!

The Power of Three, Redux: hree types of beans, three varieties of peppers: roasted red pepper, jalapeno peppers and dried cayenne peppers. As members of the Capsicum family, they are fruits. The word Capsicum is derived from the Greek word kapto, which means "to bite" … gee, wonder why?

Again, we have ingredients that are well-traveled:

Red Peppers are part of the family of bell peppers that come in a range of colors: green, yellow, orange, and, of course, red. Native to Central and South America, these fruit have a recessive gene that lacks capsaicin, the component that gives other varieties of peppers their hot taste. The green bells are unripe peppers and so are a bit light on taste. We love the reds, and particularly the roasted red pepper we use, for their rich taste and texture.

Jalapenos are named after the city in Mexico where they were first found: Jalapa. While the Aztecs are usually given credit for discovering this variety of chile pepper, the peppers existence predates the Aztecs' arrival in Mexico City.

Cayenne is believed to have first been used some 7,000 years ago as a spice and medicinal herb by indigenous, so-called "pre-civilization" peoples. Archaeological evidence dates back as far as between 5200 BC, peppering history before there was written history!

Cumin: Keeping Chickens and Lovers Nearby A member of the parsley family just like its friend Coriander, this seed is used whole or ground to a fine powder, then added to Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian dishes.

Cumin was a very common spice during the Middle Ages. It became known as symbol of love and fidelity. Brides and grooms who wore cumin, or placed it in their pockets, on their wedding day were sure to have a blissful life together... in the same vein, farmers believed Cumin would discourage chickens from wandering!