promises, promises… garden goodies fest

i KNOW.  i promise you a dessert pizza and give you….

well, green beans.

But wait!  Don’t go!  I’ve gotta tell you about these green beans tonight, because my Twitter pal Deb, over at Every Day Food is about to post a green bean Recipe Roundup of Radical Rockin’ness  (er, something like that….) and I really really wanted to participate!  (Phew, that was the longest sentence ever, sorry.)

And trust me, these green beans are worth putting off dessert for just a little while longer….

So easy

So fresh and crispy

So tangy

Sooooo delicious.

Want some?

Fresh Green Bean Salad

(loosely based off a recipe found in my newest cookbook: vegetarian sandwiches, which i would so far HIGHLY recommend!)

First, choose about a pound of tiny fresh little green beans (aka: haricots verts or very new and smallish “regular types”)

Snap off the ends and rinse well.

Steam over a little simmering water for 5 minutes, or until the color changes to a bright rich green and they are crisp tender. (I placed mine in a colander over a large pot filled with about an inch of simmering water, as i do not have a steamer)

While the green beans are steaming, whisk together the dressing in a large bowl:

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

15 or so cracks of fresh black pepper

pinch or two sea salt

And toast about a 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts in your microwave or oven for a few minutes.

Once the green beans are steamed, drain if necessary, toss in with the dressing and top with toasted walnuts.

YUMMY.

hope you enjoy!

and be sure to check out the whole roundup of the Green Bean Fest!  Thanks to Deb for letting us all participate.

love,

chanelle