~Green Beans~

Summer is coming, and with summer comes fresh green beans! I love green beans, especially when they are super fresh! You can usually find them in your grocery store if you don't have a garden or farmer's market to get them.

Here are two of my favorite recipes using fresh green beans:

Easy Stir-Fried Beef and Chinese Green Beans
from 7 Day Cookbook

1/2 pound flank or sirloin steak, sliced thinly across the grain into strips about 1 1/2 to 2-inches long
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 pound Chinese long beans or regular green beans, cut into 2-inch
pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water

Combine the beef, 1 tablespoon oil, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch and set aside.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat. Add beans and stir-fry for a few moments. Add salt to taste and water. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook until crisp tender about 3 minutes. Remove the beans to a heated serving platter and keep warm by covering with foil.

Heat the pan on high heat and add the beef. Stir-fry the beef letting it brown on one side before turning. Cover and cook 1 1/2 minutes. Spoon out of pan on top of beans. Serve with rice.

Yield: 4 servings

Garlic String Beans
from Fit for Life

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
4 cups fresh or frozen string beans, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, seasoned salt, or salt-free seasoning
fresh ground black pepper
2 cups water
2 teaspoons vegetable broth or 1 vegetable bouillon
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

In large heavy saucepan, heat oil. Add garlic and beans, and saute over high heat to sear beans, stirring frequently so they do not burn. Add seasonings, water and bouillon. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until beans are tender when pierced with tip of sharp knife. Add more water, if necessary. Frozen beans will take half the time. Add squeeze of lemon juice, and toss well.

I have added small pieces of mushrooms to both recipes, and it adds a nice flavor as well!