On a Side Note...

I confess that more often than not I totally forget about side dishes. I’ll get so involved in making a new gluten free main dish that the notion of having something along with it goes right out of my head. (Perhaps this is the reason I love the one-dish sort of meal. Everything is thrown together and served in bowls with a spoon! Side dishes need not apply.)

When I actually DO remember to throw some side dishes together, I find that I am bored stiff with them. I try to always have a green veggie at dinner. After a while, salad or steamed broccoli or green beans (the main veggies everyone likes – except for the picky toddler) get old. Boring. Bland. That’s when I go on the hunt for inspiration… a way to spruce up my boring veggies!

It’s got to be easy, though. I don’t want to spend as much time on my side dishes as I do my main dish. I want to be able to pop my main in the oven and whip up my sides while it bakes. (Did that last sentence create a picture of cooking frenzy? I’ve been told that others should just stay out of the kitchen when I’m working, lest someone gets run over.)

I recently went on the hunt for a creative way to serve fresh green beans. I found many – an overwhelming amount, actually – and ended up tweaking one to make it my own. Hence, a very pretty side dish that offers a change of pace!

Is your dinner fare lacking these days? Need a little something new thrown in there to wake up the taste buds of those who gather around your table?

I’ve got your back.

Gluten Free Green Bean with Tomatoes

1 ½ lbs fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into two-inch pieces

1 ½ cups water

4 Tbsp butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ tsp pepper

½ tsp Italian seasoning

2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped into large bite-size pieces

Place green beans and water into a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning and stir until garlic begins to soften. Add tomato chunks and stir gently until just soft. Add the green beans in and stir gently to combine. Serve immediately. (Garnish with parsley, if you so choose.)