St. Joseph's Lucky Beans

Happy St. Joseph's Day! Most would refer to these beans as fava beans unless you're Sicilian, then you know them as lucky beans. Dry fava beans are carried in purses to ensure that there will always be money. Don't look for them in my purse but maybe that's why my wallet echos from emptiness.

Here's what NCR has to say, "The tradition, told by Italian-Americans, dates back to medieval times in Sicily. The legend says that a drought came to the island -- the largest in the Mediterranean -- in the 1600s and created a great famine. With no rain, no crops, and no hope, Sicilians turned to St. Joseph. They prayed to him and promised that if he ended the drought, in return, they would dedicate a feast day every year in his name." St. Joseph, the protector of the family and the patron of carpenters, answered their prayers and the rain came.

I have seen dedications (altars) three tier high with fruits, beautifully baked loaves of bread, and of course, fava beans. The food was considered peasant food (simple food) and was fit for a man who spoke little words. His actions defined St. Joseph and his miracle saved their crops.

Fava beans come dried and you have to soak them overnight to bring them back to life. Lately, I've seen them in cans and frozen. Recipes have made them into hummus, breads, and side dishes. They are considered the love child of a pea and bean since they grow in pods and need to be harvested. They are a crop, with a strong history along with lentils, peas, and chickpeas, which was believed to have become part of the eastern Mediterranean diet around 6000 BCE or earlier.

What recipes do you use lucky beans (fava beans) for? By the way, putting some in my wallet now, maybe it will help!!