Sweet Chili Green Beans

 

Happy Friday everybody!

I'm so ready for the weekend (I've got to work Saturday morning, but it ain't no thang!).  We've got a couples bridal shower to go to, so that should be fun.  And then some major relaxation is in the works for Sunday and Monday!

Now I used to think I had a favorite green bean recipe.  I mean, it's all the rage on Food52, too.  But my friends, I think there's a new contender in town.  This was so good I ate it with my hands.  Yeah... that good.  So good, if I ever do open up my own restaurant - this will be an appetizer for sure.

Ingredients:

1 lb. green beans, trimmed
4 strips of bacon, chopped
1 onion, thinly sliced
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
3 thai chiles, minced
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1/4 c. water
sesame oil, optional
toasted black sesame seeds, optional

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add green beans and cook for about 3 minutes, or until beans are a bright green.  Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium to medium high heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about 5 to 8 minutes.  Drain on paper towel-lined plate and set aside.  Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pan and add onion.  Cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the ginger, Thai chiles, sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, and water.  Add green beans and toss to coat. Saute for 5-10 minutes, until water evaporates, the sauce thickens, and the beans become tender.

Stir in bacon and sprinkle with sesame oil and sesame seeds.

Seriously, I couldn't stop eating this.  I'd walk by and grab a bean.  Then come back 2 seconds later and grab another couple.  Be prepared to have an addiction to these!

Have a great weekend guys!

Sauteed Bok Choy w/ Peanuts

My first day of my "stay"-cation resulted in mass amounts of cooking.  I ended up making some herbed butter, some chutney/marmalade, and some muffins.  Or well, let me rephrase that.  I attempted to make muffins.  I don't know if I'd just pushed my limits and simply forgot, or what.  But I made one of the biggest mistakes in baking - I forgot the sugar.

So my intended awesome blueberry muffins became blueberry biscuits instead.  And let me tell you, it just wasn't the same.  I tried to salvage the situation by making a quick icing glaze, but I was still just not satisfied with myself.  I mean, seriously... how could I forget the sugar?!

And Andy decided to pile a bunch of vanilla ice cream on top of them to help them out.  I give him an A for effort, hehe.

You ever have those days?  Where you just forget to add something in? 

How all of that has to do with this bok choy, I don't really know.  But I just had to vent about one of my idiot moments!

Now on to something that I didn't forget any of the ingredients in...

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 green onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup bok choy, chopped
dash of sesame oil
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup peanuts

In a medium skillet under medium high heat, add olive oil.  Add green onion, garlic, and ginger.  Stir until fragrant, about a minute or so.

Add bok choy and drizzle a little bit of sesame oil over top.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cover and let steam/cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until bok choy is tender and bright green.

Stir in peanuts and serve.

This was a quick and easy side dish that I serve quite often.  I mean, it's ready in less than 10 minutes - why wouldn't I serve it often!  The peanuts give a nice textural contrast to the bok choy, as well!

Now I'm off for a quick 1 mile run.  I'm feeling good!  Have a great Tuesday guys!