07/13/2026
Words from my pequeña: “Beans have stories. And I think, um, they give us better stories of our life... and they are in many foods that help us have our ways. Like these beautiful, different colors, many kinds... beans.”
My little girl’s words didn’t surprise me because she has an old soul, but she did say something I hadn’t thought much about. “Beans have stories.” They really do have stories, and let me tell you why.
Today, sitting on the ground shelling these bright red and purple auocote beans into clay bowls, my daughter totally caught me off guard with that. A simple afternoon in our garden instantly became a core memory for me, and I hope for her, too.
Our yard might be small, but it’s become our favorite learning space—a place to appreciate the earth’s gifts, connect to our roots, and bond as a family. It’s a little living extension of our Cocina Mexicana right outside our door, with chiles, tomatoes, chaya, corn, nopales, and quelites.
Beans are a native Mesoamerican crop and an ancient cornerstone of Mexican food. In a traditional milpa, they grow symbiotically alongside corn and squash—the corn acts as a trellis, and the beans return nitrogen to the soil. They literally work together to nourish the earth, just like they combine on the plate to nourish us. But much of that true nourishment is just the act of growing, shelling, and cooking them together as a family. Mi familia es Una milpa, and this is La Cocina de Convivencia, a foundational practice that we Mexican families embrace. It is the set for La Sobremesa.
Alas, turns out she’s completely right. Beans really do give us better stories of our lives.
Note: Today, we harvested beans at different stages to enjoy in different dishes. Los frijoles tiernos (green pods) are going into a rich mole, and los maduros (the dried ones) are ready for comforting stews.
