Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

HOW TO EAT TO LIVE, BOOK TWO page 35

“YOUR BEST vegetables are: cauliflower, cabbages (not the green cabbages)… Some other vegetables we eat are as follows: brussels sprouts, asparagus, EGGPLANT, okra, squash and rhubarb.”

*You Can Read HOW TO EAT TO LIVE, BOOK TWO In Its Entirety Here.*

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As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beautiful and Beloved Black Sisters!

Although Eggplant is a dish that is not traditionally served in Black households, it is VERY delicious and also good for our health. There are many recipes for this exotic fruit that can be incorporated into our diets without too much inconvenience.

Now, you may have never cooked with Eggplant and may be a little intimidated when it comes to selecting an eggplant. I’ve bought them on several occasions and had to throw them away because they were discolored when I brought them home and cut into them. However, I’ve read that a little discoloration is okay. They are like apples.

But now, that I’ve read up on how to select an Eggplant, I shouldn’t have that problem anymore, In Sha Allah (If It Is The Will Of Allah). Now, when I researched how to select an Eggplant I was met with conflicting reports. However, I was fortunate enough to read the “rebuttals” to the claims first and then I got to the claim that like many plants, “eggplants can be male or female.” However, according to science, this is not true, because eggplants self-pollinate, meaning that  they have both MALE and FEMALE parts.

However, I continued my research and happened across a cook who was writing from experience and I rely more on and expert who speaks from experience than on one who speaks from experiments.

This is what she had to say. When choosing an eggplant, the males generally have fewer seeds than the females, and since the seeds give the eggplant a bitter taste, you want to choose a male.

Here is how you can tell the difference. Look at the bottom of the Eggplant. Female eggplants generally have wider, deep “navels” (pictured on the right) while males have round, smaller and shallower “navels”

You also want to look for Eggplants that have shiny, taut skin. If the skin is dull, it may be too ripe and will likely have developed more seeds.

This recipe is so simple and sounds delicious. I think I might try it covered in Parmesan cheese! 😉

Baked Eggplant: Melanzane al Forno

INGREDIENTS

3 medium eggplants, to yield about 3 pounds, stem removed, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 bunch Italian parsley, finely chopped to yield 1/4 cup

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.Place eggplant slices in a single layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Brush each slice with the olive oil. Stud each slice of eggplant with the sliced garlic, embedding the garlic as much as possible into the flesh of the eggplant. Season with salt and pepper and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until soft and golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. When cool, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Master Fard Muhammad

YOU CAN READ THIS BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY BY CLICKING ON THE BOOK COVER

“HOW TO EAT TO LIVE. Eat that food that Allah (God) Has Prescribed for us. Even take little simple things such as beans. Allah (God) says that the little navy bean will make you live, just eat them. He Said to me that even milk and bread would make us live. Just eat bread and milk – it is the best food. He Said that a diet of navy beans would give us a life span of one hundred and forty (140) years.”

“SIMPLE navy beans is one of the best foods that we can eat. You do not have to strain the beans to eat them. Straining the beans is a real habit that we took up years ago. But, they are better if you eat them in their hull (skin).”

“DO NOT put a lot of spices, or what you call seasonings, in such good food. Do not do this. You will ruin your food. The value of the bean is taken away by your putting so much seasoning in them. Just put the beans on and cook them until they are done. Let the beans stay in its jacket. Of course I see them crush the beans, and since the cooks and the eaters like it like that, I go along with them. But I like it better when you just cook them right in the jacket.”

“I FEEL like I could eat a bowl full of beans right now while I am talking about it. You can eat that bean seven (7) days a week. It is very appealing to the appetite.”

“WE SHOULD have a great field of hundreds and thousands of acres of beans to feed our people. It is a very cheap and a very healthy food for us. We should buy canning factories for ourselves and can beans.”

(Excerpts from HOW TO EAT TO LIVE, BOOK II by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad [PBUH])

*You Can Read How to Eat to Live, Book II In Its Entirety Here.*

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Sisters,

As the person responsible for providing our family with healthy and nutritious meals, we should make it a priority to read the above book. I cannot overemphasize its importance in the health and well-being of ourselves and our families.

As written above, along with bread and milk, the small Navy Bean is one of the three BEST foods we can eat, according to Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH). Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praise is Due Forever, taught him (The Messenger) that most of us cannot afford the expensive foods that rich millionaires eat so He prescribed for us dried navy beans, bread and milk. And He said that these are the BEST foods we can eat.

There are the white, pink, and red ones. I have only seen the white beans labelled as “Navy” beans in the grocery store. And now they are starting to just label them “small white beans” in some places. You may also find pink and red beans, but I am not sure if these are actually “Navy” beans because all of the ones I have seen are somewhat larger than the white ones.

Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH) taught us that Allah taught him that the only kidney-like bean should we eat is the “SMALL NAVY BEAN.” Not red, black, brown, pinto or any other type of bean. Not the Great Northern Bean either. Only the small, white, Navy bean.

Elsewhere in the book, he teaches us that the Navy Bean contains all of the protein, carbohydrates (starches) and fats that we need to keep us healthy and strong. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (PBUH) taught us that, contrary to popular belief, the small, white, navy bean is complete in itself. It is not necessary to pair it with rice or meat. In order to “eat to live,” we must incorporate the Navy Bean into our diet.

On a trivial note, the beans are called “Navy Beans” because they were a staple of the United States Navy in the early twentieth century. The Navy bean is considered, even by the devil, to be one of the healthiest foods one can eat. It is packed with fiber, lowers cholesterol, gives you energy while burning fat, and prevents heart attacks and some say, even prevents cancer.

The best and tastiest dish that you can prepare for your family is The Bean Soup. I had some today and it was so good, I felt like licking the bowl!

In order to make Bean Soup, you can invest in a Crock Pot (slow cooker) or make it on the stovetop. Just put all the ingredients in a big pot with some water, keep a sharp eye on it, stirring occasionally, adding water when necessary, and the following recipe works just as well on the stovetop.

Crock Pots come in sizes of 4.5 quarts and 6 quarts now. Mine is 5 quarts, but you can vary the recipe to fit your Crock Pot as well as your tastes.

Here is a very simple recipe. Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH) taught us that “simple foods are the best”. So, I don’t use a lot of ingredients. But feel free to adjust the recipe as you like.

Ingredients

One lb. bag of small white beans
1/2 stick of butter
One large onion
3-4 Garlic cloves
2 teaspoons (t) salt
1/2 t Italian Seasoning
1/2 t Curry powder
1/2 green bell pepper (optional)
2 medium tomatoes (optional)
2 sticks of celery (optional)
2 sticks of carrots (optional)

Sort and wash beans, removing all rocks and any fragmented beans. Soak beans with about a tablespoon of baking soda overnight or about 8 hours.

When you are ready to prepare the soup, rinse beans and fill your pot with about 8 cups of water (* If you use the optional ingredients, you will probably need more water).

Pour in beans.

Add 1/2 stick of butter.

Add chopped onion and crushed garlic cloves.

Add optional ingredients chopped.

Add Italian Seasonings and Curry.

Stir. Cover.

If you are cooking on the stovetop, it may take about two hours to cook the beans thoroughly.

If you are using a Crock Pot, cook on “Low” about ten hours or “High” about 6 hours (I’m not exactly sure how long to cook on “High,” I haven’t cooked on “High” in a few years. Probably 5-6 hours. Check it after four though.)

Add salt.

*Note – Do not add the salt until after the beans have finished cooking. If you add the salt earlier, it will make the beans hard.

(*If you like, you can allow the soup to cool and then blend it in the blender. This gives it a different texture. Many people prefer it blended. I like it both ways.)

You can add other seasonings, like sage, turmeric and oregano, if you wish, but the Messenger (PBUH) taught us not to put too much seasoning in the soup. He wrote that you ruin the value of the bean by putting so much seasoning in them. He wrote, just put the beans on and let them cook until they are done and not half-done. If you eat half-cooked beans, you might get the colic. So just cook the beans and eat them. You can eat this soup seven (7) days a week. It is very appealing to the appetite.

I recently discovered CREOLE SEASONINGS and have been using it as my only seasoning with some fresh parsley and this was the batch that made me want to lick the bowl it was so good.

My son eats Bean Soup EVERY DAY for dinner, along with wheat toast w/cream cheese and vegetables. He only eats one meal per day and is very healthy. I eat one meal per week, and at every meal we eat Bean Soup. We have been eating Bean Soup every day since I first read HOW TO EAT TO LIVE over seven years ago.

You may encounter some resistance from your children when you begin to introduce the idea of eating Bean Soup every day. But once you explain to your family how healthy it is and that Allah (God) prescribed it as The Best Food you can eat, if they have a modicum of intelligence they will accept the proper way to eat. You prepare the meals, so ultimately, they will eat whatever you prepare.

Just make sure you vary the other foods you serve along with the soup, such as different types and ways of preparing vegetables and fish.

Also, if you begin to improve your eating habits, your family will bear witness to the results for themselves, which is the best example you can give them. Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praise is due forever, said, “A diet of navy beans would give us a life span of one hundred and forty (140) years.” Don’t you want to live to see you great-great-great-great grandchildren??? Well, this is the best way to make it so!!!

As-Salaam-Alaikum!