Topic: Appalachian style "Leather Britches" beans

[biggreenarms]

As a boy, here in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains (in north Georgia), my mother used to make leather britches. When we took a Sunday drive in the mid to late summer months of the 1940s and 50s, a common site was seeing most all back porches decorated with strings of green beans in various stages of drying. The beans would be what we called white half-runners, or more commonly, green beans. The beans were hung so they could dry. This method of drying green beans from the garden is called making leather britches.

As the garden green beans dry, they take on a leathery look and texture, and the southern back porch is where britches (pants) were hung up to dry on wash day. People were too proud to hang their britches on the front porch to dry because neighbors and visitors could see them as they entered the house. Another theory as to how these dried beans got their name is way the green beans looked while hanging on the back porch - wrinkled and leathery looking as they dried.

http://www.greenbeanfestival.com/leatherBritches.html



Anyone ever try this method and is there a benefit over canning them? I once knew an elderly gentelman in Wayne Co that swore by this method and it was the only way he perserved beans. I've eaten plenty of canned beans but never dried beans.

[gtrman4herd]

It used to be quite common(in the 60's) to see drying or dried beans hanging on peoples porches, mainly country folk. I was never a fan of them, they had a stronger sort of taste. You can make canned beans taste close to fresh, I never thought dried beans tasted anything like fresh beans.

[BHFIOHIO]

I've never dried them but some might be the longer pole beans like Kentucky Wonder or White McCaslin and they are stronger tasting than Half Runners.

[Greg H]

I grow smaller, more tender, bush green beans.  Then dehydrate in an electric dehydrator for a fresher taste.  Best in soups...less work.

[Big Ol' Hillbilly]

My aunts always make leather britches at all family functions. Yum. I'm proud to say that I have thick mountain blood running through my veins from both sides of my family... We always eat well and swell up with pride when we are referred to as hillbillies.

[gtrman4herd]

swell up with pride when we are referred to as hillbillies.

I've always worn the term hillbilly as a badge of pride and refer to myself as a hillbilly quite often!

[mr_ash_1995]

My aunts always make leather britches at all family functions. Yum. I'm proud to say that I have thick mountain blood running through my veins from both sides of my family... We always eat well and swell up with pride when we are referred to as hillbillies.

+1  Never had leather britches...will have to ask my dad if he remembers them.

[RushnStudies]

Wow, flashback. I ate those a few times when I was little and we would go to Ohio to visit our relatives who transplanted there from WV. I remember them hanging from my great-grandmother's porch. I asked my grandmother why she didn't do that with her green beans, and she said that the Texas heat would dry out the beans or the humidity would spoil them. She grew her own in the backyard and canned them as well.

[Big Ol' Hillbilly]

I dug this thread back up for a reason. As I speak, I am digging into a big serving of my aunt's famous leather britches here at our family Christmas party. I took a pic on my phone but can't figure out how to upload from my phone.

[biggreenarms]

I dug this thread back up for a reason. As I speak, I am digging into a big serving of my aunt's famous leather britches here at our family Christmas party. I took a pic on my phone but can't figure out how to upload from my phone.

How's the flavor? Are they as good as canned beans? My favorite are half runners but they're scarce up where I'm at in Dayton.

[mr_ash_1995]

My favorite are half runners but they're scarce up where I'm at in Dayton.

I really miss my mom's canning.  Hated pickin' them though...many hours in the garden!

[00mag12gaVa]

Not the same flavor as canned or fresh half runners to me. Some folks use window type screen to dry them also, but have to protect them from rain while they dry. Store them in paper bags to your ready use them. Pretty strong smellin whilst the cook too.

[Big Ol' Hillbilly]

How's the flavor? Are they as good as canned beans? My favorite are half runners but they're scarce up where I'm at in Dayton.

Like the guy above said, they do have a different taste. The beans are removed from the ones that get too tough and are cooked without the pod in the other green beans. I guess where they are dried, those beans have a similar texture to pintos. He's right about the smell too. They smell different. I love the flavor though. Does anyone know how to post pics on here from an iPhone? I'll post the picture.