Green Beans Holiday Style Food

GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Fill a large high sided skillet with some water, adding enough to be just shy of the rim of the pan by about 1 inch. Place over high heat and bring up to boil; add a big pinch of salt and the green beans. Cook for about 5 minutes, the beans should still be crisp. Drain the beans and then run them under some cold water to stop them from cooking. Reserve the beans while you start the onions.
• Return the skillet you cooked the beans in to the cook top over medium heat. Add the almonds and toast stirring every now and then until golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the almonds from the skillet and reserve. Return the skillet to the heat and add the butter and olive oil and heat until the butter has melted. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and cook stirring frequently until the onions caramelize, 20 to 25 minutes. Add the thyme, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the cooked cooled green beans and almonds, and stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

GREEN BEANS HOLIDAY STYLE

Steps:

• Blanch green beans.
• Remove from boiling water and place in ice water to stop the cooking.
• Fry bacon pieces.
• When bacon is done, remove 3/4 of the fat from the pan.
• Add the blanched green beans to the bacon; saute 1 minute.
• Add red bell pepper and red onion; saute 1 minute.
• Add brown sugar; stir.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Stir.
• Tastes great reheated in the microwave!

HOLIDAY BEANS WITH CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Cook beans to tender crisp.
• adding orange peel before cooking, drain.
• Stir in cranberries and honey.
• Top with bacon bits.
• Heat through (if using fresh cranberries, wait until they start to pop).

HOLIDAY GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• To toast nuts, bake uncovered in ungreased shallow pan in 350°F oven about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Steam green beans 5 to 7 minutes or microwave on high about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add cranberries, sugar and orange juice.
• Cook, stirring gently, until cranberries are soft and liquid is syrupy.
• Stir in chopped nuts and toss mixture with green beans.