Green Beans Fresh From The Garden

Green beans are prevalent in gardens right now, so I thought I `d share a recipe for serving them with your favorite meal.

GREEN BEANS WITH ALMONDS AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Difficulty: Easy

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 large white onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Add olive oil to pan and melt 1 tablespoon butter. Place onions and sugar to pan. Stir and allow to caramelize until golden brown. Add green beans, remaining butter and sliced almonds. Mix ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

This can be served with a roasted chicken or cornish hens, along with a garden salad or endive salad.

Enjoy and bon appetit!

Happy Fourth Of July

Fireworks At Niagara Falls

Fireworks At Provincetown

Fireworks In New York

On The Hudson River

No matter where you spend your Fourth Of July, enjoy it, its a beautiful part of Summertime. Today our country is 236 years old.

In 1775, people in New England began fighting the British for their independence. On July 2, 1776, the Congress secretly voted for independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was first published two days later on July 4, 1776. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was on July 8, 1776. Delegates began to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. In 1870, Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees. In 1941, it became a paid holiday for them.

The first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776. He described "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations" throughout the United States. However, the term "Independence Day" was not used until 1791.

Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, died on July 4, 1826 - exactly 50 years after the adoption of the declaration. It is also important to note that Native Americans lived in the country and each tribe had its own nation and government prior to the European settlers.

The most common Independence Day symbol is the American flag. Its design is displayed in all possible ways on July 4 and can be seen in front of homes and buildings. Other symbols associated with Independence Day are the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York and the fireworks viewed all over the United States. Sometimes large civic works such as the Erie Canal and the Washington Monument start on July 4, emphasizing their contribution to the economy and culture of the United States.

Today as we celebrate July 4th, remember all of our troops and all that have fought to keep our country free.

God Bless America!