Short and Sweet

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Today marks the very first day of autumn. I don't know about you but I love nothing more than the changing of seasons. Leaves turning colors, the faint smell of fires in the evening, a new bounty of seasonal produce to manipulate and a reprieve for our AC that has worked in overdrive this summer. It is time for scarves, cardigans, big pots of hot chili, bonfires, cozying up under blankets, #pumpkinspice and everything nice! The below dish is absolutely superb. I served ours with grilled flank steak but it would be magnifique with anything that tickles your fancy. Enjoy the changing of seasons! Tonight I shall be toasting October and all the other wonderful things sitting on the horizon.

Mixed Beans with Peanuts, Ginger and Lime

Adapted from my beloved Bon Appetit

Ingredients

2 pounds of green beans - washed and trimmed (the latter activity of which is not my favorite)

5 TBS olive oil

1 large shallot - chopped

3 cloves of garlic - chopped

2 inch knob of ginger - peeled and chopped

Stalk of lemongrass - remove the hard exterior and grate what remains on a microplane 

1 cup of coriander - stems included

3 kaffir lime leaves - chopped (you can find this in the international section)

Zest of one lime

Juice of one lime

1 TBS brown sugar

1/3 cup of roasted peanuts

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Instruction

1. Boil your green beans for four minutes, drain and transfer to a bowl with ice. Once chilled, remove the ice and set aside.

2. Heat 1 TBS oil in a small skillet over medium heat and let your shallot turn to a golden hue. You will need approximately three minutes. Now add the ginger, lemongrass, garlic and 1/2 cup of coriander and cook until a stunning aroma fills your kitchen. Transfer to a large bowl. After five minutes or so, add the kaffir lime leaves, lime zest, lime juice, sugar, pinch of kosher salt, some fresh cracked pepper and 3 TBS olive oil. Gently mix and set aside.

3. Heat 1 TBS oil in a small skillet over medium heat and add your peanuts. Toss often until golden brown. Remove from the pan and transfer to towels. Roughly chop.

4. Pour your "sauce" over the green beans, throw in the peanuts as well as any remaining cilantro and gently mix with your hands or two spoons. #kryptonite Go to town.