Frozen green soybeans, often served in Japanese restaurants as an appetizer, are called edamame. Shelled edamame are soybeans that have been removed from their pods.

Lentils are naturally low in fat and high in dietary fiber, folate and magnesium, making them an excellent addition to your diet. These nutritious legumes also provide protein, iron, phosphorus and copper.

Soaking kidney beans the night before you plan to make a pot of chili or minestrone is a common practice that ensures tasty, tender beans the next day. Don't worry, though, if you forget to soak the beans overnight. A quick soak in hot water the following day is just as effective.

Lentils are a healthy, versatile food rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals. Cooked lentils can be served as a side dish to a variety of different meals including roasted or baked meats, fish or vegetarian options like tofu, and they can also be used to spruce up salads, soups and rice dishes.

Mung bean noodles are widely used throughout China and Southeast Asia. They are an ingredient in many Oriental food dishes, such as soups, stir-fries, salads, desserts and spring rolls. The noodles themselves are flavorless but readily absorb the flavors of other ingredients added to the dish.

Baking soda can act as a tenderizer for dried beans. Dried beans that just won't get tender, despite following soaking and simmering directions to the minute, are typically caused by hard water, beans that are old, or beans that have been improperly stored.

Snow peas are delicate peas with edible pods. They have a crisp, mild flavor that blends well with other flavors in vegetable medleys or stir-fries. Snow peas can be prepared a variety of ways, including steaming, stir-frying or boiling.

Vegetables are an important part of a healthy, balanced nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that fruits and vegetables help control your appetite, help prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.

The black-eyed pea, also known as the black-eyed bean or cowpea, is a medium-sized edible bean that gets its name from the black spot found on every bean. Originating in Northern Africa, the bean is a staple food in many countries and is a part of "soul food"

Black-eyed peas, also referred to as cowpeas, are a type of legume, which is a vegetable class that also includes beans and lentils. Black-eyed peas provide a low-fat source of protein and make a nice meat substitute. Black-eyed peas are a good source of iron, potassium, folate, magnesium and fiber.

For the harried home cook, appliances such as slow cookers and electric countertop roasters are a boon. Not only are they easy and convenient to use, they won't heat your kitchen the way a full-sized oven does when making dishes that require long, slow cooking.

Beans are a non-meat protein that are low in fat and high in fiber. You’d think by now someone would have resolved that one little thing that’s not so lovable -- those embarrassing gaseous emissions. High fiber and complex sugars called oligosaccharides are to blame for this problem.