A hot food trend for health- and ecology-minded cooks is preparing heirloom beans grown from seeds saved by our ancestors. High in protein, iron, and vitamins while low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, beans have long been known as one of the healthiest food staples. Now we can all share in the bounty of these delicious and colorful beans that date back to early Native American cultures. Calypso Bean Soup offers dozens of tempting and easy-to-prepare recipes using such exotic varieties as Indian Woman Yellow, Painted Pony, and Rattlesnake beans.Across the country, seed-saving foundations are working to preserve and grow the many precious seeds that have been saved, cultivated, and passed from generation to generation. Unlike the mass-produced beans we see on supermarket shelves, heirloom varieties are grown to highlight their full flavor and tender skins.So that all of these delectable dishes can also be made with more commonly found beans, a substitution chart is included in Calypso Bean Soup. Read Less