Green Beans Amandine

Just imagine gathering up all of your favorite local restaurants in one place where you could sample all of their best dishes.  That would be incredible, right?  Well last month, my dream came true.  I first heard about this amazing event called the "Taste of Monroe" on Facebook and I bought tickets immediately.  All of my favorite local restaurants (and future restaurants) were represented -- and they all brought samples!!!  

Our ticket price covered all of the tastings.   There was everything from beer and wine samples to honey fried chicken with collards to waffle house waffles.  And yes, I sampled it all.  You didn't think that I would pass up a hot fudge sundae from Scoops, did you?

From top to bottom and left to right
Shrimp and Grits from South on Broad
Mr. Jones Burger from LR Burger
Broccoli and Cheddar Soup from Panera
Asiago Cheese Bagel Bites from Panera
Bok Choy Broth from Bruce's Sweet Shop
Barbecued Chicken from Shanes Rib Shack
Honey Fried Chicken and Collards over Cornbread from The Monroe Country Club
Pesto Shrimp Chip from Silver Queen
Honey Hot Boneless Chicken Wing from Amicis
Buffalo Chicken Dip and Chicken Salad from the Cotton Cafe
Waffles from Waffle House
Hot Fudge Sundae from Scoops
Toffee Marshmallow from Scoops
Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate Buttercream from Bruce's Sweet Shop
Cupcake Display from Posh Cupcakery

My personal favorite was the Shrimp and Grits from South on Broad.  I didn't think that I was a grits fan but this was so good that I found myself desperately trying to scrape the last of the grits out of the bottom of my cup with my empty shrimp tail.  It was THAT good.  

It was really interesting to see what each restaurant chose to offer as their "taste" at the event.  Just imagine that you could only offer someone one taste from the repertoire of things that you make in your own kitchen.   What would it be?  

Thanksgiving dinner at the Davis house this year was a compilation of talents.  I asked each guest to contribute their best dish to the meal.  Roll baking duty always goes to my mom because - well, we can all agree that she's the roll master.  My MIL brought stuffing and cranberries.  And, after I passed out all of the cooking assignments for the dinner - there really wasn't much left for me to make.  
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Thanks to a willing sister in law - I didn't even have to make the green beans for Thanksgiving this year.  I actually like to make green beans but blogging a new recipe with a house full of dinner guests while entertaining on Thanksgiving is a recipe for disaster - trust me.  I made these beans for Ben and I a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving and we really enjoyed them. 

I am especially thankful for everyone who contributed to our Thanksgiving meal this year.  Pulling together our best dishes is a great way to put on a great meal.  

Green Beans Amandine
8 ounces haricots verts
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup sliced almonds
​2 Tablespoons water
1/4 cup thinly sliced shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
​1/4 teaspoon pepper

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.  Add green beans and cook 4-5 minutes until crisp tender. 

Drain beans and plunge into ice water bath.  

Drain on paper towels. 

Add oil and butter to pan.  Melt. 

Add almonds and cook until butter is browned and almonds are toasted.

Add shallot and garlic and cook 1 minute longer. 

Stir in lemon juice and water and cook until slightly thickened and glossy. 

Stir in beans, salt and pepper.  Cook another 4-5 minutes.  

Serve. 

Did anyone else mistakenly refer to these green beans as "almondine"?  I've made other versions of this recipe for years and I've always referred to them as green beans almondine.  My bad.  It does make me wonder though, how many of my other recipes I've been pronouncing incorrectly.  

Ciao!

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