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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Bad News/Good News

It's been such a mixed bag of a week.  It started with the friend who was behaving so awfully last fall suddenly deciding that he wanted to reconcile, for the oddest of reasons--still don't know what to do about that one--and then progressed to my beautiful old cat Ingrid being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism yesterday.  For those who have not had the experience of pilling a cat, it's a sight to be seen.

It's not a great photo, but just look at that face.
The good news is that the Eleemosynary cast, all three of them, put down their scripts yesterday and it turned out that they all knew their lines.  What could have been a train wreck of a rehearsal turned into my gushing at them about how wonderful they are.  We still have two weeks' worth of hard work to do before opening, but I am optimistic.

The other piece of good news is that it looks like we are headed back to Italy this year.  If you have restaurant recommendations for Rome, Verona or the regions of Alto Adige and Emilia-Romagna, please let me know.

Because I'm here to tell you:  I need a vacation, not to mention some good Italian food.

There are several things I always try to keep in my pantry, because it seems every savory dish is improved by them:  olive oil, lemons and shallots.  Those three things make a great salad dressing by themselves, but they also dress up simple side dishes, like these roasted green beans.


This healthy side dish could be varied with whatever nuts you have in your pantry, but buttery cashews add a great crunch and hit of salt.  It goes together in less than 10 minutes, and the combination of soft and crunchy is out of this world.

Roasted Green Beans with Shallots and Cashews
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine, February 2009

1 1/2 lbs. green beans, trimmed at the ends
1/2 cup salted cashews, roasted and chopped
1/3 cup shallots, chopped coarsely
1 1/2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of finely-ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 500 degrees--you will want to cook these in the lower part of the oven to prevent scorching.

In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and toss to coat thoroughly.  Spread evenly on a large cookie sheet with sides.

Roast until the beans are thoroughly tender and starting to turn brown, about 20 minutes.  Stir often to make sure that the shallots aren't sticking to the pan or burning.

Serves four as a side dish.  We served with a gorgeous medium-rare steak, but the late lamented Gourmet recommended this as a side for roast chicken.

42 comments:

  1. Mmm a little sauteed shallots sounds delicious with green beans & I'm loving the sound of buttery cashews! What a great combo of flavors - totally trying this for an upcoming dinner, I think it'll be a hit!

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  2. Sorry for the double post but I forgot to mention that your cat is adorable, I hope everythign continues to go well with your show & I'm SO jealous you're going to Italy!!

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  3. Sounds like I'm having this for dinner tonight. Thanks for the idea and for the recipe :)

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  4. Wow, this recipe will help with the diet this week!!! Looks so healthy and yummy. I am so jealous you are going to Italy, sounds like you have a great trip planned. Hope kitty is doing better, our grandpuppy, Kara, a sheba inu, has the same problem and she is doing great!

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  5. Greeen beans are a favorite of mine and I love the shallots that you've added along with the cashews. Tasty!

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  6. There are a lot of bonuses with this dish, that does make you want to prepare this time and time again. It is quick, healthy, has a short ingredient list and has lots of flavor. There may be a ton of ways to fix green beans, but my interest lies in this particular method. Thanks for sharing.
    I am sorry about you beloved cat, I hope it is doing better.

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  7. So sorry about your kitty! My pups had to take pills and that was definitely tricky. Pin her down, pry her mouth open, clamp her mouth shut and then...she'd spit the dang thing out! Anyway, good luck with that, even though I don't have good advice. :-)
    Your roasted green beans look unbelievably good. I am super into roasted veggies these days and I love the addition of the cashews (best nut in the world next to pecans!).

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  8. Oh yum. I have all of these ingredients. Will definitely try this recipe. It's certainly a mixed bag for you. Italy sounds wonderful and so does the most recent rehearsal.

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  9. Sorry about the bummer of a day. Your cat is precious and I hate that she is feeling poorly. Good luck with the reconciling (or not) friend situation. These green beans look to die for. (I am so envious about your upcoming vacation!!!!)

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  10. I'm sorry to hear about your poor kitty... I have two myself and I can just imagine your concern. I hope I never have to give pills to them.. what a chore that must be. It's hard enough to get my kids to take their medicine. These green beans look perfect!! I am so excited about your trip to Italy too. I have always wanted to go.. someday I hope. :)

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  11. These green beans look so delish! Love how a few simple staples can turn them into something special. Hope your kitty will be okay and that you figure out what to do about your blast from the past! : )

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  12. Aw, such a sweet face...I hope Ingrid becomes more cooperative with taking her meds! Lambeau will eat anything encased in a marshmallow..but she's not very discriminating :) And I love this recipe...so simple, yet full of delicious flavor.

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  13. Thanks for all the well wishes on Ingrid--we should know in a couple of weeks whether she is responding to the medication, and I will keep everyone posted.

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  14. Yeah I can understand how difficult is to give medication to pets especially cats. Don't worry hyperthyroidism can be controlled.
    I made some green beans yesterday and my daughter said they were so plain.I should have added some shallots and nuts in it. I am definitely going to do that soon.

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  15. I had a wonderful time in Italy and there's plenty of sharing I have done on my blog. However I am not sure you will be getting to the same area in Rome because its so big and wide with so many restaurants and places to see. We had to narrow down to the popular ones and I wished we did spent more time in Rome.

    I like this healthy beans you had made and I need to try nuts with beans bc you know my recipes are mostly with spices and Asian touch.

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  16. Oh it is first time I have a cat and I may be lost if he fall sick one day. I hope he will stay healthy. I hate to see my pets or those I love not well. You steak looks perfectly done and the roasted green beans looks like a good combo for the meat. Enjoy your upcoming holiday. Eat lots of yummy food and tell us about it when you are back.

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  17. I hope your cat is ok my friend - she is simply beautiful :)
    But on a brighter note - Italy? Jealous jealous jealous!
    And the beans? Omg look so tasty :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    http://gobakeyourself.wordpress.com

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  18. I love these beans, shallots and cashews - can't go wrong! Sorry to hear about your kitty - as a cat lover, I can sympathize!

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  19. Love this dish, it look s fantastic, so that's always a good start!
    I love Italy too, still can't decide which is my favourite city!
    As to your friend, tough one, but I've always believed in meeting people halfway, especially when there's an apology with it! Of course, only you know how bad the estrangement was.

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  20. This dish looks great love the addition of cashews. Sorry about your kitty..... and the mixed bag of emotions I am sure comes with your friend wanting to reconcile. Those are always the toughest choices to make. On another note Italy sounds awesome!!! I haven't been in ages but would love to go back with my hubby as he's never been at all. I can't wait to hear about your time there. :)

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  21. Oh how lucky you are to be going to Italy. It is such a beautiful place. I have to say I think Florence is just so lovely (cobblestone streets and all).

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  22. Italy is my favorite place in the world! I was most recently there last fall and went to Verona, Valpolicella, Cormons, Alba (and surrounding wine towns), Sienna (and surrounding wine towns), and Florence. Let me know if you want any recs! I posted a lot about it too. What time of year will you go?

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  23. I'm Sorry to heared about your kitty :(
    these greanbeans sound really YummY,great recipe !! Italy sound awesome !!
    Ridwan

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  24. Sorry to hear about puss.... I hate to see any baby get sick animals are so vulnerable... Italy is the key to a happy belly lol have the time of your life, this dish with that crunch of nuts is really got me intrigued got to try this one out soon!

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  25. Aw, sorry to hear about your kitty!

    These green beans look excellent and would make a great side!

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  26. The roasted green beans look delicious, perfect with a good steak. Sorry to hear about Ingrid, hope she gets better. Looking forward to seeing your post on your great Italian vacation!

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  27. Those look delicious, Jen! I love fresh green beans (or frozen or canned for that matter) and the additions to it here sound great!

    I'm sorry about your kitty! :-/

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  28. Meow...Ingrid Sorry to hear that you are not very well. You will conquer, wont' you!
    Green beans with nuts look mouthwatering and pair so well with perfectly done steak.

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  29. I'm so sorry to hear about Ingrid. :-( The green beans with nuts? I've never tried that before. And your recipe is so easy to follow. I have green beans in the fridge - I'll try this weekend!

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  30. Hope Ingrid gets better - I do have experience with "pilling" a cat. Oy vey! Lucky you and Italy. I wish I could go at least annually! Love pairing green beans with nuts. And somehow - some credible green beans are showing up in the stores (from where?) so am bookmarking this.

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  31. I'm so jealous you're going to Italy! These beans look awesome. I love love love cashews; they're my favorite nut. Couple that w/ the shallots and you've got one tasty dish!

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  32. I am so jealous you're visiting Italy this year! I went there a few years ago (Rome, Florence, Venice, Bologna, and Milan) and didn't have ANY bad food there! I wrote a short trip report on my blog if you are interested :) Love the green beans recipe by the way, the simplest dish is usually the most delicious!

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  33. Lucky you to be going to Italy! I have two cats and can't imagine trying to get them to eat a pill. I can guess what would happen, but I'm glad your kitty will be doing better. Love green beans, and you are so right - shallots, olive oil and lemons can do justice to almost any dish. :)

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  34. Oh poor kitty - yes, I've had the experience of trying to medicate a cat - ouch! Wonderful that the play is going so well. Love, love, love green beans so always delighted to find a new recipe for them. I'd eat this as a main. Yum!

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  35. Your poor kitty baby :( All I can say is that something hiding the pill can work...our dogs have been taking heart worm treatment pills for 8 months and we've just about run out of ways to sneak it to them!

    Great green bean dish! Totally droolable

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  36. Aww.. So sorry to hear about your kitty!


    I've never tried beans with nuts but your recipe is a must try. :)

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  37. Aw - so sorry to hear about your cat. I'm not sure what that means, so I hope it's nothing too serious.

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  38. I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. I hope you have a fabulous time in Italy, I've always wanted to go. You've got to tell us all about it, can't wait to see the photos! =]

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  39. What a splendid use of cashews, love all the ingredients in your dish plus I have some unsalted cashews I wasn't sure what to do with (except snacking of course). Best wishes for kitty...I know the pain of having a furry friend become sick and needing extra love. Did your vet show you how best to give the pill? there's a little trick that helps : ) In from the side, as far back as you can and rub her neck till you feel Ingrid hopefully swallow. She's so pretty, too bad they haven't some up with something to replace the pill (like liquid) you could use a dropper for.

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