Vegetables - Pasta Substitution

Ringing in the New Year, individuals will often be energetic in following a weight-loss plan (or weight-gain, depending on your "ideal weight.") Rather than mounds of pasta, one can replace heavy carbs with copious amounts of vegetables... Haricot Verts (French for "green bean") are one example. One mistake that most individuals tend to make is overlooking their vegetables. I remember while studying in Paris, one of my chefs would always tell me that French men prefer their vegetables slightly al dente (a bit of a crunch,) as opposed to mushy and overlooked. When cooking Haricot Verts, I will blanch then in boiling salt water for 2.30 minutes... Then immediately "shock" by throwing into ice water (stops the cooking process). Dry the beans with paper towels, then quickly sauté in olive oil... Combine with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lemon juice to impart more flavor into the beans... Pair with sautéed shrimp for a lighter entree or appetizer. When plating, remember to "build up" the volumn and height to create a more impressive "work of art" before consumption. And to top it off, a little bit of love... The greatest of all ♥

Love y'all!  ♥