Some folks here already know that I've been living with an Italian cook for the past four years. While he is not a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, he always makes 2-3 vegetable dishes per week (especially if I cut up the veggies). This past week I was jonsing (sp?) for my belovèd salade niçoise. My recipe calls for chic peas (garbanzos). The cook was shocked to see me using a can of garbanzos rather than seeing me soak the peas/beans overnight. I told him that--imho--they tasted exactly the same. Sorry, but I honestly believe that there are some things in the can that are as good as their fresh counterparts. Peas and carrots are definitely NOT in that category
There was a recipe I used to like making with chick peas in it and I always used the dry kind you had to soak. Probably cuz I started using the dry variety I just couldn't get used to the ones in a can. But over the years I lost the recipe and can't find it online. I would rather have canned peas then frozen peas. except the veggies in a can of veg-all are strange tasting.
frozen is actually better nutritionally than non-home canned or old limp stuff in the crisper. I use canned beans about half the time. I use a pressure cooker the rest. Tinned beans rinsed (not chili beans or baked, obviously) are fine in anything you will add a sauce to.
Canned is easier but doesn't taste as good in my experience. I would suggest a pressure cooker. It is my favorite short cut, takes about forty minutes after soaking overnight.
2 to 3 veggies a week? i feel bad if i dont eat more then that every DAY and im not veggie.... though i dont eat hardly any meat... in any case.. the only type of vegtable i know that i love from a can is green beans. better then frozen, but fresh still kicks ass there.
