Fresh Updates from the Farm: Green Bean Highlights & Delicious Recipes!

Dear Friends,

Greetings from the farm! I hope everyone is doing well and had a great Fourth of July. We have been busy this week getting a third of the strawberries planted. Only 10,000 more to go! Fortunately, we also received the much-needed rain to help everything grow and mature.

We have plenty of fruit to choose from, including plums, peaches, cherries, blueberries, and blackberries. Additionally, we have a variety of tomatoes: cherry, heirloom, red, and yellow.

This week, let’s highlight the green bean. Here are some tips on how to store and prep green beans, along with three delicious recipes:

Storing and Preparing Green Beans

Storage:

1. Refrigeration: Store fresh green beans in a plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. They should stay fresh for up to a week.
2. Freezing: Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to an ice water bath. Drain and dry the beans thoroughly before freezing them in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Preparation:

1. Washing: Rinse the green beans under cold water to remove any dirt or residue.
2. Trimming: Snap or cut off the stem ends of the beans. You can also remove the tail ends if desired.

Recipes

1. Garlic Parmesan Green Beans: Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Toss the green beans with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer.
4. Roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

2. Green Bean Almondine: Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 lemon, juiced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then transfer them to an ice water bath.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Add the sliced almonds and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the green beans and lemon juice to the skillet, tossing to combine.
5. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

3. Green Bean and Bacon Salad: Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, then transfer them to an ice water bath.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked green beans, crumbled bacon, and red onion.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine before serving.

We hope everyone has a great week!

Best regards,

The Schultz Family