G is for GREEN BEANS

I love green beans.  It was one of the first vegetables for which I developed a taste after I was diagnosed with Crohn's; that means, I have been a fan for almost nine years now!  I would have them every now and then before my diagnosis--I remember Thanksgivings specifically--but once again, I didn't eat many veggies in the days before Crohn's changed my life.  Now, I strive very much to incorporate healthy foods into my diet, especially fruits and vegetables, and if I ever have kids, I will do everything in my power to ensure that they eat and enjoy produce.  :)

I like fresh green beans, canned green beans, frozen green beans.  My MIL actually introduced me to the BEST frozen green beans ever:  these babies below.  :)

When we were in grad school, we shopped at Kroger, but that isn't an option here.  (However, a new Harp's is supposed to be opening right down the street from us in an old motel--HALLEJUAH!)  I tend to buy the generic/store brand for things like frozen veggies, but Walmart's green beans are sooo tough.  These beauties, which are found at Sam's, turn out perfectly.  (Sorry for not knowing the price; my MIL bought these for us when she was taking care of me after my surgery.)  Since I usually steam the green beans with some kind of spice (thyme, garlic, Italian mix, etc.), tonight, I wanted to do something different.  I love roasted vegetables, so I decided to give roasted green beans a try.  :)

Roasted Green Beans

1/2 pound frozen green beans

3/4 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 Tbsp. (i.e. 1 1/2 tsp.) balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

grated parmesan

Preheat oven to 450.  Place green beans in bowl.  (I snapped mine in half so they would cook faster.)  Mix oil and vinegar together and pour over beans; toss to coat.  Arrange on a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20-ish minutes.  Season with salt, pepper, and parmesan to taste.

These were quite delicious!  I recommend them to go alongside spaghetti, which is what we did.  :)

G is for GRAPEFRUIT

photo originally here

I used to not like grapefruit very much.  It was too bitter and too tart, which sounds crazy, but that is how grapefruit is--and it confused my tastebuds.  I remember hearing in junior high and high school that grapefruit juice could help you lose weight, and I soldiered through glass after glass though I hated it.  I also thought having half a grapefruit for breakfast was very European and glamourous, so I forced myself to eat more than a few halves in my lifetime.

At some point, I discovered the beauty of a fresh grapefruit sprinkled with brown sugar and broiled for a short time so it got warm and caramelized.  Ahhh!  Then suddenly the grapefruit seemed great on its own!  This past year, I wasn't able to have any grapefruit because of the medicine I was on.  :(  But now that I have had my surgery and don't have to worry about blocking my stoma, I am slowly easing back into having citrus, including the one pictured above.

I haven't bought any whole grapefruit to broil yet, but my husby purchased this container that holds ten (yes, TEN!) grapefruit for six-ish dollars right before my surgery, and there is some left.  I think it is a wise purchase if you like grapefruit by itself.  The past few days I have been enjoying a few segments sprinkled with vanilla sugar.  Ahhhhhhhh. :)