"We are not measured by the trials we meet -- only by those we overcome."
- - Spencer W. Kimball
August 8, 2014
Simple Skillet Green Beans (The Best Fresh Green Beans of Your Life)
by Melanie Gunnell

This recipe proves that side dishes for dinner don’t have to be fussy or fancy or complicated. You are only three-ish ingredients and 12 or so minutes away from fresh green bean heaven. I’m so lazy I don’t even trim the ends of the beans all the time (or very thoroughly) in my haste to get this delectable side dish on the table and they are still wonderful. Untrimming green beaners unite.

What started out a couple years ago as an I-Have-Green-Beans-What-Shall-I-Do-With-Them-That-Doesn’t-Involve-Pressure-Canning conundrum has turned into our absolute favorite way to eat fresh green beans as a side dish.

With green beans in season and more widely available right now than, say, in mid-January (jealous if you are actually getting them from your own garden!), this recipe just plain makes me happy.

It’s not a stretch to say we eat these with any variety of main dishes several times a week and sometimes I whip them up for lunch because…well, it feels weird to say I crave green beans but I guess just really like them and think about them all the time…you know, because that’s not a strange thing to confess at all.

Plus, no better way to justify carrying around pockets full of dark chocolate chips the rest of the day for instant indulgence than eating a skillet loaded with green beans for lunch.

These simple green beans are definitely not cutting edge or rocket science but that’s ok, because squid and chia seed smoothies are pretty highly overrated or so I hear. And if you love fresh green beans, you must (absolutely must) at some point in your life try this Balsamic Fresh Green Bean Salad. Ah, green beans. I’m so glad you are in season.


Simple Skillet Green Beans
Yield: Serves 4-6

After trimming the ends of the green beans, you can cut them into 1- or 2-inch lengths, but I usually leave them long so I can maybe, hopefully teach my kids the importance of cutting up food on their plate before shoveling it into their mouths.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon oil or butter

  • 1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed

  • 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil or butter over medium heat. Add the green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, to crisp up the edges of the beans just slightly.

  2. Pour in the broth and bring the beans/broth to a simmer. Cover the skillet and cook anywhere from 6-10 minutes, depending on how tender you like your green beans. Keep an eye on the skillet. If it is simmering too vigorously and the liquid evaporates out, add a bit more as needed.

  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe


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About Melanie Gunnell

Melanie Gunnell is a food-loving, chocolate-obsessed mom who has a desperate need to share her favorite tried-and-true recipes with the world. In a past life she graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in public health, but for the past ten years, stay-at-home motherhood has been her job along with blogging-from-home for the past five.

She resides in the brilliantly cold tundra of Northern Minnesota with her husband and their brood of five children: four boys and one tiny, bossy girl. Dark chocolate (particularly the act of shoving chocolate chips in her mouth whilst hiding in the pantry) is her coping skill of choice for both the never-ending winters and the never-ending wrestling matches in her front room.

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/

Calling(s): Primary pianist, CTR 6/7 Primary teacher, Activity Day leader

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