What they knew is this:  Vegetarian dishes are inexpensive, healthy and offer a rich assortment of flavors. My sister Kate hated rice as a child; but, when she struck out on her own, she learned to love it or starve.  “This ain’t no Uncle Ben’s,” she would say cooking up a perfect batch of sticky rice in a sauce pan.  She always stocked onions, garlic, rice, and beans in her pantry.  Her bean dishes were flavorful and substantial... and much, much less expensive than my staple of macaroni and cheese.

I was reminded of all this last weekend when we prepared our main dishes using three cups of beans total.  A $5 bag of beans provided the anchor in enough food for 20 people and we still had leftovers.  Try spending that little on a turkey. 

Doubt me?  The New York Times’ Well blog may convince you with this interactive presentation of vegetarian fare.  A feast for the eyes, no less.  Oh, now, I’m hungry...