What's Cooking: Warm White Bean "Salad"

I've had Martha Stewart recipes fail on me more often than I can count.  You'd think I'd learn.

Not only do I continue to get her magazine but I just bought this book.  I'm really dumb.  Especially since I'm guessing all these recipes can be found on her website for free.

In any event, I decided to make this one tonight.  If you can figure out why you would add a cup of water at the end, please tell me.  You can simmer this forever and those poor little canned beans are not going to suck up that water.  The worst part is that I knew that it wouldn't work and did it anyway.  I mean, she's Martha.  It must be right, right?  Wrong.

I ended up quickly making some couscous and serving the "salad" over the couscous.  It turned into a kind of light stew.  It wasn't bad -- tasty, even.  But it wasn't what I was expecting.

There's a lesson here, I think.  I'm a smart woman.  I'm a fairly accomplished home cook.  I know cooking basics.  And yet.  Martha has done such an amazing job branding herself and her company that I question myself and what I know about how food works in favor of her "expertise."

Harumph.