Yes, I realize this is a strange recipe for me to be sharing here with y’all…
But these are really good.
Throw in a jalapeño or two along with some garlic, and it’s a party!
Needless to say, these Pickled Green Beans (and jalapeños!) are super tasty in a Bloody Mary… or eaten by themselves if that’s what floats your boat.
Growing up, there were a few things that my mom made a few times a year that made me inordinately happy and one of those things was her Banana Bread. Honestly, when that woman made it–and she often surprised me–I would eat it for breakfast, pack it in my lunch for school, and enjoy some for desert after dinner. (For some reason, my parents would not let me eat it for dinner.) Whenever I would smell it baking, I was so excited.
It’s the peak of summer harvest here in the Pacific Northwest. Gardens are over-flowing with the bounty. Local farmers markets are saturated with the vivacious tastes, smells, and colors of the season. Co-workers bring in boxes full of produce, letting the bright colors seep into the office, laying out the summer bounty in the break room, making the donuts seem sad and desperate. Neighbors drop off baskets overflowing with greens, yellows, oranges, reds, and purples so deep and rich you can hardly believe it.
Your mind starts to race as you think of all the recipes to be explored. Your heart quickens as you dream of the canning to be done; to capture the tastes to be savored on a cold winter day as you open summer captured in a jar. You start to salivate as you think of sitting down to a meal, oh the cooking to be done! But instead of turning on the stove and tying the apron strings on, you slice a tomato and sprinkle it with salt, taking a bite of it raw. It is perfection on the tongue, so sweet and juicy; it makes you wonder what piece of plastic has been posing as a “tomato” the rest of the year in your grocery store. Yes, it’s time to enjoy the splendor of what the good earth has to offer.
There are many things I enjoyed about working in an Italian restaurant in high school and college. Chowing down on leftover focaccia after service was over was one of those things. Focaccia is one of my favorite breads because of it’s unique texture. It’s buttery and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. The soft, spongey center makes it perfect for dipping in seasoned olive oil–the perfect appetizer for any Italian meal.
