Fresh Grilled Summer Veggies

Roasted Green Beans

 

The more vegetables I roast, the more I love roasting!  I have always steamed, blanched, or sauteed green beans, but I was curious about how they would turn out after spending some quality time in my oven.  I feel as though I am unlocking the secret behind eating vegetables:  steaming or blanching often results in limp, bitter eats.  No wonder we aren't devouring them.  Roasting makes everything better.  A quick rinse, a toss in olive oil, s&p and into the oven.  These didn't take long either - just about 25 minutes and they were browned and sizzling.  I wouldn't go so far to say this brought out a sweetness in them, but they definitely became more savory.  I sat down with a platter of them and a half hour sitcom, and when 30 minutes had gone by they were gone as well!

Make them again?  Roasting is now my choice method for taking on these haricot vert.

Improvements? Perhaps more seasoning, in additional to s&p.  Or maybe drizzle a melted garlic sauce on them when they come out of the oven.  Although I must say, I am a huge fan of the beautiful simplicity that olive oil, s&p can achieve. 

Green Beans, Sauteed

 

I am a huge supporter of vegetables done simply and deliciously.  When it comes down to it, that is all we need to enjoy them.  With green beans being SO plentiful in the fall, I will have many opportunities to cook them up in different ways until my husband and I find the way we like them best.  On this night, I blanched the green beans in boiling water for one minute.  While they blanched, I heated some olive oil in a skillet.  The GBs went straight from the pot to the skillet and I topped them immediately with tons of minced garlic, red pepper flakes and s&p.  They only took a minute or two to saute and soak up their seasoning.   

 

Make them again?  Yup.  They were goooooood.  

Improvements?  One of my favorite seasoning combos is garlic, red pepper, s&p.  I'd like to stick with that, but if I come along another awesome spice blend, I wouldn't hesitate to dress them in that.