Is it really important to know what’s in everything you eat? I think feeding ourselves and our families requires educated decisions, but sometimes we just want to walk blindly and not know. I like to post different articles and new studies about food on Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes people get upset when they find out what’s in their food, and even go so far as scolding me for posting it.
I get it. You might not have thought to turn over the box and read what’s in those crackers your toddler loves. You might have a favorite drink or food you love and you simply don’t want to know how they get all that taste in “Only 100 calories!”. We’ve all done that. When my girls were babies (and before I was eating organic, whole foods), I didn’t even think to turn over the can of baby formula and read the ingredients. My youngest was 9 months old when I read the ingredients. I about fainted. Well, I actually cried to be completely honest. I cried because I hadn’t thought to read the ingredients and I was so mad that a company would sell a can of baby formula loaded with sugars, corn syrup, preservatives, etc. At that moment I decided to look at all the labels and find alternatives. (I found out later there are alternatives to baby formula – you can even make your own. Who knew?!)
I’m not here to tell you what to eat or what not to eat, but I hope to help you make educated decisions for you and your family. We all have areas where we cheat. It helps keep us sane. But knowing exactly when and how we’re cheating makes a huge difference.
I saw a version of this recipe in the Oprah magazine, changed it up and bit, and plan to add it my Thanksgiving table this year. It’s best served at room temperature which means you can make it earlier in the day and leave it until you’re ready to serve your Thanksgiving meal. If you just can’t have Thanksgiving without a green bean casserole, read the ingredients first or better yet, check out the recipe I posted last year.
Here are a few other green bean recipes that would be great to add to your Thanksgiving table:
Green Beans with Almonds and Thyme from Simply Recipes
String Beans with Prosciutto, Pine Nuts and Meyer Lemon from Food Blogga
Green Beans with Walnuts and Lemon Vinaigrette from The Bitten Word
Print This Recipe
Green Beans with Dates, Oranges and Hazelnuts
Adapated from Oprah Magazine. Serves 8
For the dressing:
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon raw honey
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
1/4 cup red onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds green beans, trimmed
3 oranges, segmented
1 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, toasted or dehydrated
Directions:
Stir vinegar, thyme, honey, mustard, onion, and salt together in a small bowl. Pour in olive oil and whisk until combined.
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add beans to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes, until bright green. Drain and quickly transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain again and pat dry. Place cooked beans, oranges, dates and hazelnuts in a large bowl. Pour dressing over beans, toss and serve. Best served at room temperature.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you, this is just what I needed to find for my Thanksgiving meal. Just for the record, I have NEVER liked the traditional green bean casserole…yuck! But, unfortunately, not everyone coming to dinner feels the same. This dish will at least seem like I made an effort to find a substitute (unlike the simple dish of steamed and buttered green beans that I usually serve-which I love).
I love the freshness of greenbeans at the Thanksgiving table, the orange is such a nice twist.
Hoooooly good grief-a-lacious. GAWGEOUS.
Carrie, this flavor combination is *right* up my alley. I’ll definitely be trying this out soon.
I absolutely adore green beans! the orange is a lovely addition!
Forget Thanksgiving – I want this bean ‘salad’ today! So fresh and crunchy and sweet and delicious – I’m all about the labels as you know – think PinkBerry!
I always get excited for my mom’s green beans with toasted almonds every Thanksgiving. This version with dates, oranges and hazelnuts sounds mind boggling. Might need to be a new tradition at our table!
Never had the famous “green bean casserole” – in my family we kept it simple – just lightly steamed green beans, butter and sauteed almonds. But that doesn’t hold a candle to this…so my kind of dish!!!
Mmm great take on green beans. Yum!
I am thankful for the articles you write and the information you share concerning food products. I am MUCH more aware of ingredients and what I put into my body, and I feel so much better.
I am almost embarrassed at myself at how I react when people say they are using formula. Not everyone is blessed with an abundance of breast milk and that I understand. I was fortunate to have been able to breast feed each of my children for over two years. I know that. But for those that have a choice and choose the manufactured stuff, I am confused. And yes, you are so right, Carrie -there are alternatives and it should be the doctors job to share that info!
Love this bean salad. The addition of orange is perfect. No thanksgiving for us coming up but i’ll be making this as a side just because.
Hello! I loved this recipe, I want to try it, but do you think it would work as a side dish? Or is it better as a main dish?
It’s a bit light for a main dish, so I’d use it as a side.