Here in Northern California, we've been bombarded by news that a big storm, the worst in two years, is on its way. Time to make some beans or posole. I ended up making posole for both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. For Christmas, I added some beans and I have to say, it's not traditional but the pot liquor from the beans adds some real body.

Despite the rain, Joan and Sarah will be at the market on Saturday, without tortillas or chips, and they'll power through as long as they can. The original forecast was for the worst of the storm to have passed but now the weather icon has lightening bolts and torrential rain!

In other news, Vanessa Barrington, who co-wrote Heirloom Beans with me, has started a new blog worth checking out. Vanessa is a great cook and it will be fun to see what she comes up with.