Smells like bean spirit

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love had the right idea when they middle-named their baby girl Bean, because beans are the coolest. Chock-full of nutrients, yet low in fat and calories, beans are a super food. Plus, they’re versatile, and there are hundreds of kinds: Fall in taste-bud love with kidney beans in green salads, baby limas with rice, or discover the yellowish-ivory mayacoba, with a taste reminiscent of the pinto. It’s available at many grocers and also at Napa’s Rancho Gordo (www.ranchogordo.com), along with other gorgeous heirloom beans such as the fetching yellow eyes: white with a sunny ochre iris. And if you fear the smells of bean spirits, read up on gas-reducing tips at http://tinyurl.com/beansgas, and truly enjoy cool beans.