Bean Thinking?
Bean Thinking?
Bean thinking about healthy eating? Try adding green beans into your summer dishes to enjoy the health benefits of eating farm fresh and in season. The green bean is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family and has been around for a very long time. Some say that there are over 100 varieties of… Read More »
Bean thinking about healthy eating? Try adding green beans into your summer dishes to enjoy the health benefits of eating farm fresh and in season. The green bean is a herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family and has been around for a very long time. Some say that there are over 100 varieties of beans differing in taste, color and size. Green beans can be green, yellow, purple and speckled and they grow both on bushes or on plants with long vines. We grow three different kinds of beans here on our farm including green, yellow wax and Romano (aka Italian beans).
Grown for their edible pod, beans are a popular crop for the home gardener as well as for us here on the farm. Families love the excitement of picking their own beans from our fields and our team loves being able to incorporate beans into a variety of our catering dishes for parties on the farm.
Low in calories, high in fiber, vitamin k and calcium, green beans are an inexpensive source of healthy carbohydrates, protein, flavonoids and micronutrients. They are a very versatile food that can be eaten both raw and cooked. Try this seasonal recipe for green beans with pesto made curated by our culinary and educational specialist, Miss Jenn. Or try baking green beans with potatoes on a sheet pan for a one dish meal. Add a bit of Zaatar seasoning or hot pepper flakes for an exotic twist. A simple savory meal with easy clean up makes this meal perfect for a busy weeknight. Add your protein of choice to make this even more hearty.
Store unwashed whole beans in a reusable bag in your refrigerator for up to seven days. Plan to blanch and freeze your beans for longer
storage by simply adding your beans to boiling water for three minutes until they turn bright green. Remove them from the boiling water and plunge in a ice water bath to stop the cooking. Drain on paper towel completely before moving to a freezer safe bag and store in your freezer for up to 6 months.
Our homegrown beans are in season now through early Fall in this region. Find them at our farm store, farm stands and farmers markets. Check them out on our website too!
Best wishes from our farm kitchen to yours! xo
