kidney beans

Itching to channel your outdoorsy side sans the mosquitoes? This season, rely on smoky baked beans to bolster your camping daydreams. Here, Cooking in Pajamas shows you how.

Are baked beans a warm comforting dish for a blustery day, or are they the perfect side dish to serve at your Summer BBQ?
In my humble opinion, they're both. Nothing says Summer to me like a cookout with burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob, and a side of baked beans. But then again, there is nothing quite as nourishing as a bowl of warm, comforting baked beans on a cold rainy day.

Nothing makes your house smell as good as a pot of homemade beans baking in the oven. Yes, this recipe cuts a few corners by using canned beans, but the final product will taste nothing like anything out of a can.

Keep reading for her baked beans recipe

Didn't have time to plan the workweek's meals yesterday? No sweat. There's still an opportunity to pull dinner together with salad that makes the most of your pantry ingredients. Build on a basic lettuce base with chickpeas, tomatoes, cold cuts, and kidney beans left over from last night's burgers. Toss everything together with a honey-vinegar dressing, and serve alongside a chunk of bread.

If you're hoping to make it a meatless Monday, then simply omit the salami. For the recipe, keep on reading.

This week, after a few too many drinks at CUESA's Farmers Market Cocktails Night, I heeded the cries coming from my stomach and headed over to Gott's Roadside.

I decided to opt for a burger without the beef, and I've been dreaming about it ever since. The perfect veggie burger has a charred exterior, a meaty texture, and a fresh quality to it that keeps it satisfying yet light.

Inspired by Gott's, I'm making my own mushroom-topped meatless patties, a combination of beans, breadcrumbs, and walnuts — plus a few secret ingredients. Want to get in on the recipe? Then read more.