With the holiday's just around the corner I thought I would post a recipe for side dishes. This week let's look at a few green bean recipes with a twist:

Green Beans with Toasted Almonds

• 2 1/2 to 3 item pounds slender green beans, trimmed, or haricots verts
• 1/2 cup slivered or sliced blanched almonds
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 item shallots or garlic cloves, sliced thin
• 1 cup boiling water or broth
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Snap off stem ends of beans; pull away strings. In large deep skillet over medium heat, toast almonds, stirring continuously, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer nuts to plate; set aside. In the same pan over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add shallots and sauté until translucent and beginning to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Raise the heat to
medium high, and stir in the beans. Sauté about 5 minutes. Add water or broth; cover and simmer until beans are of desired tenderness, about 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; stir in parsley and almonds. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl. This makes 12 servings.

Per serving: 83 calories, 10 grams carbohydrate, 3 milligrams cholesterol, 5 grams fat, 3 grams protein, 9 milligrams sodium.

Green Beans with Onions, Bacon and Butter

(This is the receipe I use)

• 3 to 4 lbs of fresh green beans
• 1 lbs sliced bacon
• 1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
  
• 4 garlic cloves (crushed)
• Kosher salt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• Freshly ground black pepper

(You can use healthier substitutes like unsalted butter and turkey bacon but I can't guarantee the taste)

Snap the green beans or simple cut the ends off. Wash and drain the beans. Cut the bacon into small cubes and set it aside with the onion and garlic.

Bring a large pot salted water to boil ( about 2 Tablespoons salt to 1 1/2 gallons of water). Add the beans and the lemon juice. Let this boil gently for 7 to 10 minutes, until the beans are tender. Drain the beans, reserving about 2 cups of the cooking water.

In a large saute' pan, cook the bacon. Then add the onion and garlic. Saute' for 7 to 10 minutes over low heat. Add the bacon an the reserved water to the bacon mixture. Add the butter, season with salt and pepper, and cover. Simmer for 5 minutes over low heat. Serve.



Either way you decide to cook your green beans will be a hit.

(Green bean and almond recipe Essence.com and Green beans with bacon recipe Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted- by Monique)