One ingredient can make all the difference

My lovely readers, meet the Lingonberry. No, this is not a pornographic term. It actually exists. And it’s full of awesome.

When I was growing up, my mother always made sure to serve a vegetable with dinner. Most of the time, that meant taking a bag of green beans out of the freezer and microwaving them. I never ate much of them. It wasn’t until years later that I realized you can do so much with vegetables, the green side dish at the dinner table doesn’t have to be a microwaved afterthought.

It’s been a little project of mine recently to use up some of the things stashed in the back of our freezer, as it’s starting to overflow. To my dismay, I found one bag of green beans. After making the recipe I’m about to share with you, I wish I had several bags stashed back there!

And this ingredient made all the difference:

Apple wine vinegar with lingonberry. I got this at Ikea. I almost walked right past it. So glad I didn’t. I originally bought it for salads and vinaigrettes, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to splash a little in my green beans.

Oooooohhhhhhh mmmyyyy goooooddnnessss you guys, it’s amazing.  It oddly adds a sweetness to it, with a slightly tangy apple taste, and just a hint of lingonberry. I can’t get over it. I wish I had bought a case of the stuff.

Anywho, back to the beans.

Apple Lingonberry Vinegar Green Beans

16 oz. frozen green beans
1 clove garlic, chopped
1T olive oil
2T buter (futter, margarine, your choice) -optional
2T apple wine vinegar with lingonberry (Or you could try using any fun vinegar you have!)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Salt and Pepper, to taste

First, you want to sauté the garlic in the oil. I may or may not have added a little more garlic than one clove. What can I say, I love garlic.

mmmm. Love the smell of garlic cooking!

Then, you add the green beans. If you’ve already thawed them out, you won’t need to cook them as long. Saute them for 5-7 seven minutes if they’re still frozen. Add the butter. This step is optional, but I think it adds some richness.

Let the butter melt, Then season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the almonds.  They add a fun crunch! Saute for 2-3 more minutes, then you’re ready to serve them!

If you want, you can cook them a little longer, depending on how you like your green beans. I normally like mine to have a little crunch left in them, so I don’t cook them as long.

Are there any ingredients that make all the difference in a dish you make? A condiment you just couldn’t live without?