Friday Foodie Fix
This week I’m writing this post from Hershey Park. Sorry to say I didn’t find any green bean stands here but lots of chocolate that I couldn’t eat. They did however offer gluten free and dairy free food options throughout the park. This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Green Beans. Some folks might say it’s a boring ingredient but any vegetable I can get my family to eat is never considered boring to me.
Green beans are packed with lots of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese. They are also a good source for Vitamin A (including beta-carotene), potassium, folate, iron and fiber. Oh and don’t forget the thiamine, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.
Did you know that green beans, often called string beans, are in the same family as shelled beans. Shelled beans like pinto, black and kidney beans. If you can purchase your beans at the farmers markets look for firm, crisp vibrant green beans that snap or pop when broken. I like to keep mine in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. They last about a week or so.
Green beans are great cold in salads or cooked and served warm. Growing up in the north east my mom would cook the beans so they were still crisp and that’s still my favorite way to eat them. When I got married, my husband’s mother cooked them the southern way, until very soft and usually the half runner variety. I hope she’ll share her recipe in the comments section.
©Diane Eblin
Here are a few of my recipes with green beans:
If you have recipes with Green Beans please use Mr. Linky or if you don’t have a blog leave your recipe in the comments section.
Next week’s Secret Ingredient is ………………….. Spinach!
Green beans are a great ingredient. Green beans are packed with tryptophan, which can help regulate your appetite; help you sleep better; and, elevate your mood. Can't wait to try the new recipes on your site. Have a wonderful weekend.
Sleep Better Tips- I love finding out which foods will help with sleep but really like the ones that also help regulate appetite. Very cool. Thank you for sharing!
Green beans are a great ingredient. Green beans are packed with tryptophan, which can help regulate your appetite; help you sleep better; and, elevate your mood. Can’t wait to try the new recipes on your site. Have a wonderful weekend.
Sleep Better Tips- I love finding out which foods will help with sleep but really like the ones that also help regulate appetite. Very cool. Thank you for sharing!
I'm pretty basic when it comes to recipes for green beans themselves … I like them either crispy (grilled is nice) or the Southern slow-cooked method (with new potatoes and some bacon). I did just clip a recipe for Shredded Green Beans from the newspaper that came out of Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson. If I try that soon, I'll add it here. BUT, today, I shared my tortilla soup recipe which I make with green beans. 🙂 I look forward to reading all the recipes!
Next week spinach … yum! Oh, yeah, you are a real trouper blogging from Hershey Park while consuming no chocolate!
Shirley
Shirley- Well I have to admit I did have some chocolate, but not from Hershey. I took my own so I wouldn't feel left out. I like Alter Eco Fair Trade brand. I took some Dark Chocolate Twist with crystallized orange peel. Yes it has sugar but I didn't eat very much. I also like gnosis chocolate. It's raw, organic unprocessed chocolate with just about any flavor combination you can think of. http://www.gnosischocolate.com and http://www.altereco.com for more chocolate information.
Now I'm going to have to try my green beans on the grill. That must have started one night when you were camping. I'm just imagining myself putting green beans on to sticks to hold over the fire. You probably have a better way.
I’m pretty basic when it comes to recipes for green beans themselves … I like them either crispy (grilled is nice) or the Southern slow-cooked method (with new potatoes and some bacon). I did just clip a recipe for Shredded Green Beans from the newspaper that came out of Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson. If I try that soon, I’ll add it here. BUT, today, I shared my tortilla soup recipe which I make with green beans. 🙂 I look forward to reading all the recipes!
Next week spinach … yum! Oh, yeah, you are a real trouper blogging from Hershey Park while consuming no chocolate!
Shirley
Shirley- Well I have to admit I did have some chocolate, but not from Hershey. I took my own so I wouldn't feel left out. I like Alter Eco Fair Trade brand. I took some Dark Chocolate Twist with crystallized orange peel. Yes it has sugar but I didn't eat very much. I also like gnosis chocolate. It's raw, organic unprocessed chocolate with just about any flavor combination you can think of. http://www.gnosischocolate.com and http://www.altereco.com for more chocolate information.
Now I'm going to have to try my green beans on the grill. That must have started one night when you were camping. I'm just imagining myself putting green beans on to sticks to hold over the fire. You probably have a better way.
I hope you're having a great time! I'm like you, I like my green beans crisp, not overcooked. I don't like them cold, though. Thanks for all the nutrient information.
Linda- Thanks for joining in. I'm not sure if I like my beans cold either. I'm not sure I've tried a green bean salad. Time to get busy I guess.
I hope you’re having a great time! I’m like you, I like my green beans crisp, not overcooked. I don’t like them cold, though. Thanks for all the nutrient information.
Linda- Thanks for joining in. I’m not sure if I like my beans cold either. I’m not sure I’ve tried a green bean salad. Time to get busy I guess.
As the " mother-in-law" I am pleased to share my "mooshy" green beans" recipe as Diane as well as my grandsons have always called them. First of all you have to have half-runner beans. String and break the beans, par-boil for 10-15 min. Pour off the water and add water to cover the beans. I roll one or two strips of bacon fastened with a toothpick to season. The old way was a "glob" of bacon grease. How healthy is that? Add salt to taste, cook for about two hours, just taste to see when they are done. add water as necessary but cook dry at the end of the cooking time. My mother "Bur" cooked these almost everyday in the summer time. With corn on the cob, fresh sliced tomatoes, green onions and corn bread our meal was sufficient. For a vegetarian version of the beans you can use vegetable broth and chopped onions instead of the bacon. Much healthier, too.
Judy- Thank you for sharing your recipe. I think a little glob of bacon grease isn't so bad. It adds a lot of flavor to the mushy beans. Now I know when I tried to make these why I didn't get it the same. I did it completely different. Now I know. Thank you!
As the ” mother-in-law” I am pleased to share my “mooshy” green beans” recipe as Diane as well as my grandsons have always called them. First of all you have to have half-runner beans. String and break the beans, par-boil for 10-15 min. Pour off the water and add water to cover the beans. I roll one or two strips of bacon fastened with a toothpick to season. The old way was a “glob” of bacon grease. How healthy is that? Add salt to taste, cook for about two hours, just taste to see when they are done. add water as necessary but cook dry at the end of the cooking time. My mother “Bur” cooked these almost everyday in the summer time. With corn on the cob, fresh sliced tomatoes, green onions and corn bread our meal was sufficient. For a vegetarian version of the beans you can use vegetable broth and chopped onions instead of the bacon. Much healthier, too.
Judy- Thank you for sharing your recipe. I think a little glob of bacon grease isn’t so bad. It adds a lot of flavor to the mushy beans. Now I know when I tried to make these why I didn’t get it the same. I did it completely different. Now I know. Thank you!
My family grows green beans in the backyard every year. I love the abundancy of the green beans. Growing up, they were my sister's favorite things to eat in the summer with all kinds of different veggie dips. YUM. Thanks for the Food Friday Fix. Diane, we love your site.
Celiac Tips- Wow, I'd love to grow green beans in my back yard. I wish I had room. I'm going to have to create a mobile garden next year so I can roll it around to where the sun is in my yard and then can put it away from the neighbors view. That would be great to go pick and eat. Thanks for joining in on Fridays! Glad you are enjoying the site. I'm always looking for new ideas or requests. Feel free to send them along!
My family grows green beans in the backyard every year. I love the abundancy of the green beans. Growing up, they were my sister’s favorite things to eat in the summer with all kinds of different veggie dips. YUM. Thanks for the Food Friday Fix. Diane, we love your site.
Celiac Tips- Wow, I’d love to grow green beans in my back yard. I wish I had room. I’m going to have to create a mobile garden next year so I can roll it around to where the sun is in my yard and then can put it away from the neighbors view. That would be great to go pick and eat. Thanks for joining in on Fridays! Glad you are enjoying the site. I’m always looking for new ideas or requests. Feel free to send them along!
Sorry I am late on the green beans, it just didn't get made til yesterday and won't be up on my blog til later this week…all the posted recipes look wonderful though!
Jenn- Better late than never. So glad you could join in. Hope you make it a weekly event.
Sorry I am late on the green beans, it just didn’t get made til yesterday and won’t be up on my blog til later this week…all the posted recipes look wonderful though!
Jenn- Better late than never. So glad you could join in. Hope you make it a weekly event.
What a great idea to feature a new food every week! Thanks!
Kendra- Glad you like the idea! It's a lot of fun to see what everyone does with the same ingredient. It's not as much pressure as Iron Chef but still just as fun! Hope you'll share your recipes too.
What a great idea to feature a new food every week! Thanks!
Kendra- Glad you like the idea! It’s a lot of fun to see what everyone does with the same ingredient. It’s not as much pressure as Iron Chef but still just as fun! Hope you’ll share your recipes too.