Garlic Pork chops and Green Beans

Green beans is by far my favorite thing to serve with pork.  And this time of year I can get fresh green beans from my own garden plot as well as from the farmers market.  We are using up the home-canned green beans from last season so I can make some new ones this year which made me think of this recipe.  I stir the canned beans into the pan drippings to warm them and enhance the flavor.

Apricots have a peachy-like flavor with a hint of sour that makes them a perfect compliment to the blank pallet that is a pork chop.  You can also make this with slices of pork roast instead.

Pork chops and Garlic Green Beans 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 1/2-inch thick pork rib chops
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 4 apricots, pitted and cut in wedges
• 2 tablespoons plain or herb flavored honey (lavender or a spice infused honey are perfect)
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 pound green beans, trimmed

Directions

In an extra-large nonstick skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat; lower heat to medium. Lightly sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. Cook chops in hot oil for 5 minutes, turning once. Add apricots, honey and 2 cloves of garlic to chops in skillet; cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until apricots are tender and pork is no longer pink in center.

Meanwhile, in a 2-quart microwave-safe dish combine beans and one clove garlic and 1/4 cup water. Cook, covered, on 100 percent (high) power 6 minutes, stirring once; drain. (Or steam them with garlic slices in a basket steamer until crisp tender.)

To serve, spoon cooking juices from skillet over pork, apricots, and beans. Makes 4 servings.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  

To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, Recipe2019, or Recipe2020.

 
You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD for each month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2021 so you can find them all.

The themes are:
Jan 2021 – Baked Items
Feb 2021 – Breakfast Dishes
March 2021 – Italian Dishes
April 2021 - Chicken Recipes
May 2021 - Appetizers
July 2021 – Pork Recipes
August 2021 - Seafood
September 2021 - Pizzas
October 2021 – Mexican Dishes
November 2021 - Cookies
December 2021 – Gift Recipes

 

Grilled Mushroom and Green Bean Salad - Meatless Monday

The theme this month is Grilling, but I did not want to focus only on grilled meat so I worked on this meatless recipe that is wonderfully flavored and perfect for a summer dinner.

Grilled Mushroom and Green Bean Salad

½ pound large white mushrooms, halved
½ pound green beans, trimmed
1 red onion, cut into 1⁄2-inch-thick rounds
3 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
½ teaspoon granulated onion
1 pound whole portabella mushrooms
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
½ teaspoon rosemary, broken
½ teaspoon dried thyme
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 bunch salad burnet or watercress, thick stems removed (about 4 cups)

Directions
Heat grill to medium-high. In a large bowl, toss the white mushrooms, green beans, onion, 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon granulated onion. Grill these marinated vegetables (place the beans perpendicular to the grates to keep them from falling through), turning occasionally, removing them as they become tender, 8 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, season the portobellas with garlic, herbs and ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Grill alongside the vegetables stem side down, brushing occasionally with 2 tablespoons vinegar, 3 to 5 minutes per side, until tender and nicely browned.  Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Divide the salad burnet / watercress, grilled vegetables, and sliced portabellas among bowls. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar.

To find any recipe featured this month - use the search box and type: GrillJul

To find any theme recipe from this year type: recipe2018

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:

   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)

   February - Beef Stew (StewFeb)

   March - Jambalaya (JambMar)

   May - Ham and Shrimp Dishes (ShrHamMay)

   June - Bread recipes (BreadJun)

   July - Grilling (GrillJul)

   August- Garden Delights 

   September - Salsa, Corn and Jelly 

   October - Squash Dishes 

   November - Pumpkin Recipes

   December - Herbal Cocktails 

Green Beans with Basil Vinaigrette Weekend Recipe

It is still in the 90s here this week, not at all what you expect at the end of September, but the basil is loving this heat and producing more leaves.  This cold bean dish is perfect to enjoy when the temps are hot and humid.

Green Beans with Basil Vinaigrette

1 lb. green beans, trimmed
1 small clove garlic, peeled
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup loosely packed flat parsley leaves
2 1/2 Tbls olive oil
2 Tbls red wine vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Fill a large bowl with ice and water for an ice bath.  Add green beans to water and cook until crisp tender, 3 to 4 minutes.  Drain and transfer to the ice bath.  Let sit in the ice bath until chilled, then transfer to a serving platter.

While the beans are cooling make your vinaigrette by chopping garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle with salt.  Mash with the side of the knife until it forms a paste.  Take this paste and add to a food processor or blender with herbs, olive oil, Dijon mustard and puree until smooth.  Pour resulting dressing over chilled beans and grind some fresh pepper to taste.

Enjoy your chilled beans with other garden fresh items or grilled chicken or a burger.

Green Beans and Red Peppers - Weekend Recipe

No, I am not rushing Christmas, I just thought since the garden is still producing for a few more weeks this would be a great recipe to use some of that bounty!

Green Bean  and Red Pepper Salad

1 lb. green beans, steamed

1 large red pepper, thinly sliced

½ cup olive oil

3 Tbls. lemon juice

1 tsp. lemon balm  (or lemon verbena)

½ tsp. dry mustard

½ tsp. paprika

½ tsp. granulated onion

Place beans and peppers in a serving dish.  In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon herbs, mustard, paprika and salt.  Toss with beans and peppers.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Weekend Recipe - Green Beans with Olives & Dill

Our local Farmer’s Market is every Wednesday.  My husband and I stop on our way to work.  This week there was an olive vender and some great Green Beans.  Combining that with Dill from my garden and I came up with this great recipe for you to enjoy.  Dill’s affinity for beans is obvious in this simple side dish.  I love butter on my vegetables, but have been trying to cook with heart friendly ingredients this year, so I switched to olive oil.  This recipe uses the best of the garden and lots of heart-healthy oils.

Green beans, Olives & Dill

• 1 pound young green beans
• 2 tablespoons minced Kalamata or ­Moroccan oil-cured olives
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill weed
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh chives

Rinse and trim the beans. Place a pot of water and the stove and bring to boiling.  Add the beans to the boiling water and cook 3 minutes, or until barely tender. Drain immediately and toss with the remaining ingredients.  Serve warm or cold.

Pancetta & Green Beans - Weekend Recipe

Sometimes I choose a recipe just because of the comfort food quotient.  This is one of those.  I could eat green beans at every meal, they are my favorite.  I love them fresh and grow them in the garden and buy them at the farmer's market and get some from friends, and purchase frozen bags of them at Trader Joe's.  Now a sprinkle of chives and this recipe is warm comfort manna from heaven!

Green Beans and Pancetta with  Browned Butter

2  lb. thin green beans or haricots verts, trimmed

4  oz. pancetta

2  shallots, thinly sliced

6  Tbls. butter

6  oz. peeled and roasted  chestnuts, sliced

2 Tbls. fresh Chives, clipped

In 4-quart saucepan cook green beans, covered,  in boiling salted water 4 to 7 minutes or until crisp­  tender. Drain; set aside.  In an extra-large skillet cook pancetta over medium heat until crisp. Drain pancetta on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet.  Reduce heat to medium-low. Add shallots to reserved drippings. Cook for 4 minutes or until golden brown and beginning to crisp, stirring frequently. Using tongs, transfer shallots to a paper towel-lined plate. Season to taste with salt. Add butter to drippings in skillet. Melt butter over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Continue to cook, without stirring, for 4 minutes or until butter becomes light brown and fragrant. Reduce heat to low. Add chestnuts, green beans, and pancetta. Cook 2 to 4 minutes to heat through, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately topped with shallots and chives. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

EACH SERVING  213 cal

If you want to know how to roast your own chesnuts (there is a pun in there somewhere) here is the recipe for that too!

 

HOW TO  ROAST CHESTNUTS

Use the tip of a sturdy paring knife to cut an X on the flat side of each chestnut. Arrange chestnuts in a single layer in an ungreased baking pan. Roast at 425°F for 15 minutes,  tossing once or twice during cooking. The outer shells will start  to brown and pull apart at the X.  Cool slightly. While still warm, peel the chestnuts, then roll in a clean kitchen towel to remove the thin, papery inner skins.

Weekend Recipe - Dilled Mustard Green Beans

The beans are starting to be available at the farmer’s market and I am so excited!  I love green beans I could eat them with every meal.  My husband does most of our cooking (it’s his hobby.)  He is very skilled at main dishes and sauces of every kind.  Vegetable dishes are not his forte. So I get to make those and this is one of my favorite when the green beans are fresh.  You can substitute plain cider vinegar for the herbal vinegar but the subtle flavors and sweetness of tarragon vinegar really imparts an exotic French feel to this sauce.

Dilled Mustard Green Beans

Sauce:

½ cup Dijon mustard

2 Tbls. dry mustard

¼ cup tarragon herbal vinegar

1/3 canola oil

¼ cup chopped fresh dill (or 1 Tbls. dried)

1 lb. fresh green beans.

Mix the sauce ingredients and allow to marinade in refrigerator several hours before serving.  When ready to have a meal, blanch and steam the green beans until crisp tender.  You can also wrap them in foil with 1/4 to 1/3 cup of water and allow to steam on the grill for about 3 to 5 minutes.  Just before serving, pour sauce over green beans.

This sauce is also great on asparagus, carrots, chicken and fish.