Voting has ended. The birdline is: Bean there, done that

For those meatless meals during Lent, there is always fish. And pasta dishes. And ... you might also consider the lowly legume.

Beans such as lentils can provide flavorful alternatives. And dishes like  meatless chili can be made with enough heft and taste that you won't miss the meat, says the author of several bean cookbooks.

After you gorge this one last time tonight on Mardi Gras, check out the Let's Eat section online or in Wednesday's Post-Dispatch for some meat-free recipes with legumes.

And vote for tonight's birdline.