uncat

I've got a black bean soup recipe that I want to try out, but for some reason the supermarket doesn't sell dried black beans. I don't want to go out shopping again so I'm trying to figure out what will work in the soup. The recipe calls for 3 cups dried black beans. In my pantry I have:

dried black-eyed peas

dried small red kidney beans

dried great northern beans

dried navy beans

dried lentils

Will any of these work? Maybe a combo of the navy beans and black-eyed peas? The color will be different, obviously, but as long as it tastes OK I don't care. The soup recipe is pretty standard: celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, garlic, various spices (coriander, pepper, oregano.) Thanks for your help!

I may be going to the Malaysian part of Borneo on vacation next year, and I'd like to understand the local language a little more than I would get from just reading a phrasebook. I'd like to start with a book, tape, or program rather than a tutor, because of time constraints.

I'd like some recommendations for learning materials. I'm a native English speaker, if that makes a difference. (Also, please let me know if I should be learning a language other than Malay!)