Calypso Beans (WHY IS THERE FRUIT IN MY FOOD?!)

This list may seem outrageous to you, as it did to me, when this recipe was passed down to me many years ago. So much so that it took me 6 literally years of sitting in my "starred" e-mail box before I gave it a try. Huge oversight. Try it now.

2 red peppers, diced
2 celery sticks, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 banana, chopped
1 mango, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb dried calypso beans
1 unloved beer (or stock or bouillon)
3-4 thai chili or red chili
salt and pepper
1 tsp cumin
1 bunch of chopped cilantro
1 can coconut milk

*If you can, soak beans overnight.*

In a stock pot, sauté all the vegetable and fruit things (don’t add coconut milk yet. Drain the hopefully soaking beans and add the beans in water (mix in a beer or add bouillon, etc) to the mixture and simmer for an hour or so, making sure you have a least an inch of liquid over the beans – and you may need to add more water if it gets low.

Add salt and pepper and chili during the hour to taste. When the beans are approaching softish, add the cilantro and coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes longer.