Strings and Shrooms

As I was enthusiastically browsing around the Little Italy Farmers Market this weekend like a kid in a candy store, something drew me to the string beans.  String beans are a vegetable I rarely buy and seldom eat.  But in the light of the perfect summer day, something about their  garden~y smell was irresistable.  I picked up a pound for $3.00 and happily carried them home, imaging what cool FIT things I do with them in the kitchen.  Below is my summer version of the classic green bean casserole…..a cool string bean salad!  It made for the perfect side dish for dinner last night and you could adapt this in a million ways to fit your taste!

Begin by washing and trimming any stems off of the beans.

Then steam them for about 5 minutes or until they’re just tender (this salad will not be impressive if they get mushy, like canned green beans)

I like mine al dente, with a little crisp left in ’em!

Once the beans cool, cut them  into inch long pieces and mix them with seasoned, sautéed mushrooms.

I sautéed regular ‘ol white mushrooms in some coconut oil with salt and garlic powder….the trick here is to let the mushrooms get really crispy, which will help them develop a rich, almost meat-like flavor. Just mix the two ingredients together when they’re room temperature I’d I used 2/3 beans to 1/3 mushrooms.

The last step is to toss this with your favorite salad dressing or lightly with oil and vinegar.  I used a creamy cilantro dressing and it made the salad cool and refreshing!  If you use a mayo-free dressing this would be awesome to bring to picnic or pot-luck!

You could also spice this up by adding any of the following, depending on the rest of your menu: slivered almonds, goat cheese, roasted garlic cloves, kalamata olives,  and even Bacon (if you’re a meat eater).

You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to get your fill of a delicious green bean dish!  These guys are healthy for you too-see below!

vitamin C…20.3%

vitamin K… 18%

vitamin A… 13.8%

fiber….10.8%

folate…..8.2%

vitamin B….6.7%

potassium…..6%

iron….5.7%

nutrition info from whfoods.com

Salad Time

I went grocery shopping @ Trader Joes earlier this week  and went on a full on herbivore binge.  I don’t know if it’s the fact that next week is the official start of summer or if my body is finally starting to crave the shit I wish it would, but I just couldn’t bring my self to buy anything but salad fixins’. 

All the veggies looked beautiful and I just couldn’t wait to get home and craft a perfect salad! Not to mention that they were hosting a little demo going on where they were sampling mini heirloom tomatoes with fresh basil and a balsamic glaze.  The smell alone sold me on the basil, I love scents!  There’s nothing like really fresh, in season veggies!  Lets take advantage of the summer eats while there around!

Check out the groceries and the glorious salads that have been happening

Check out everything $35.00 will get you at Trader Joes…nice deal right?

 

That Organic broccoli slaw is a great buy! Less than two bucks and it make it super easy to add cruciferous veggies to everything. I toss ’em into eggs, salads, & stir frys.

 

Coconut oil makes everything taste better and can withstand super high heats with out becoming carcinogenic the way olive oil can when heated. I cook my eggs in it in the morning and alway use it to roast veggies in.

 

Our produce stand, all nice and stocked! We go through alot of avocados in our house…

 

 

Post grocery shopping feast…eacstly what I was craving

 

what’s inside: baby greens, baby heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, shredded broccoli, cucumber, gorgonzola crumbles & a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.

 

I was super excited about these tomatoes 🙂

 

2nd salad: 1 can of tuna, 1 tbsp mayo, diced pickles, torn fresh basil, chopped tomatoes, s&p, granulated garlic! Perfect to pack for lunch- except you’re that employee who brought tuna to work…oops

 

On a non-salad note, check out how amazing the sky has been the past few nights in OB. Long beautiful streaks of sun were dipping through the clouds and  in to the Ocean.