Monday, November 2, 2009

Green Beans Braised in Tarragon and Butter

[Recorded November 2, 2009; developed over a long time]
1/2 lb  haricot vert, if available, or nice young green beans
kosher salt
2 t unsalted butter
1/2 t dry tarragon, rubbed fine
Pinch off the stem end of each bean, but keep them whole if possible. [Hint: Hold a bunch of beans together in one hand, and pinch the stems off with the other.] 

Bring a half-inch of lightly-salted water to a boil in a saute pan and drop the beans. Cover, and boil slowly until almost tender, about 6 to 8 minutes (see RANT).
 

Drain into a colander and cover to keep warm. Dry the pan, and return it to medium-high heat. When sizzling hot, add the butter and coat the pan with it. After about a minute, a nutty buttery aroma will become apparent. Pure deliciousness. 

Drop the beans, coat with the butter, and salt. Handle with tongs. Add the tarragon, saute a few minutes until sizzling. Plate. Deglaze pan with a tablespoon of lemon juice, white wine, water or stock. When fluid is mostly gone, pour the butter-tarragon sauce over the beans, and serve. Dyno-mite.

Serves 2 to 3 as a side, or 1 bean freak
 

RANT:
Don’t make the widespread culinary mistake of grossly undercooking vegetables. Because the nutrients within the plant’s cells can’t escape the cell wall (remember, people can’t digest cellulose), some of the potential food value (and flavor) will be unavailable. Reducing raw foods to a liquified puree (yuck) in a “juicer” will free the nutrients, as Jack LaLanne proves nightly on his infomercials, but except for carrots, it's not a major home appliance. After all, how much liquified orange peel are you prepared to drink?

Farmer's Salad

Recorded October 21, 2008 Part of a “milchig” [dairy] Sunday morning brunch at Leon and Dorothy's table.
1 cup creamy cottage cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
Additions:
sliced black olives (Greek are best)
cucumber, peeled, seeded, small dice
red onions, small dice
green onions, finely sliced
green or red sweet bell pepper, small dice
red radish, sliced thin
freshly ground black pepper
no salt needed (cheese has plenty)
Cantaloupe: The Inside Story
 
Other dishes to serve with brunch
smoked chubs
lox
bagels
crescent rolls
Kaiser rolls
smoked sablefish
smoked white fish or trout
assorted fresh fruits (melon, grapes, berries, cherries)
assorted fresh vegetables (cucumbers, sweet peppers, radishes, black olives, green onions, tomatoes, red onion)
orange juice
tomato juice
fresh coffee
cream cheese
butter