Gourmet Green Beans Food

GOURMET GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook beans in boiling salted water only until about half-cooked; drain beans and set aside.
• Cut the bacon in small pieces and brown in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add onion, garlic and mushrooms to bacon fat and drippings in skillet; saute until tender-crisp.
• In large mixing bowl, combine beans, bacon and sauteed vegetables with wine and cheese.
• Place mixture in casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes.

THE BEST GREEN BEANS EVER

Steps:

• Snap the stem ends of the green beans, or cut them off in a big bunch with a knife if you'd prefer.
• Melt the bacon grease in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for a minute. Then add the green beans and cook until the beans turn bright green, about a minute. Add the chicken broth, chopped red pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Turn the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid, leaving the lid cracked to allow steam to escape. Cook until the liquid evaporates and the beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp, 20 to 30 minutes. You can add more chicken broth during the cooking process, but don't be afraid to let it all cook away so the onions and peppers can start to caramelize.

GREEN BEANS WITH SWEET ONION VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Stir together onion, vinegar, mustard, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Marinate about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook beans in a large pot of well-salted boiling water, uncovered, until just tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a large ice bath to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry.
• Whisk oil and parsley into onion mixture, then toss with beans.
• What to drink:
• Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07

GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Spread out pecans on a rimmed sheet pan and bake in oven until pale golden on inside, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool and coarsely chop.
• Have ready a colander submerged in a large bowl of ice water. Cook beans in a 6- to 8-quart pot of well-salted boiling water, uncovered, until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Using a large slotted spoon and/or tongs, transfer beans to colander in ice water to stop cooking, then drain well and dry on towels.
• Heat butter in a 12- to 14-inch deep heavy skillet (preferably straight-sided) over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then add shallot and cook, stirring until pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in sugar until almost dissolved, then cook pecans, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add green beans, kosher salt, and pepper, and sauté beans, turning them with tongs, until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve.