Honey-Balsamic Green Beans

Every year we go to Santa Barbara to my aunt and uncle’s dreamy beach house for Thanksgiving but this year, we are heading to Sonoma County. I’m making a few sides to bring including these green beans from my new Forest Feast Mediterranean cookbook inspired by our time in Sicily.

Honey-Balsamic Green Beans

recipe from The Forest Feast Mediterranean

4 c green beans

2 cloves minced garlic, trimmed & diagonally sliced

1/4 c (35 grams) pomegranate seeds

1/4 cup (30 grams) pistachio seeds, roasted & chopped

Saute on medium heat with 1 T olive oil, plus salt and pepper, for 3-5 minutes or until the beans are bright green. Then add 1 T balsamic vinegar and 1 T honey to the pan and toss until all the beans are glazed. (about 1 min).

Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt and the pomegranate seeds and roasted & chopped pistachio seeds.

Max and me in Cefalu, Sicily in 2017 while shooting The Forest Feast Mediterranean cookbook

The rural area of Sicily we visited is known for its honey and pistachio production and these ingredients are used frequently in sweet and savory dishes from the region. I love the added crunch from the pistachios. We visited the snowy volcano peak in the morning and ended the very same day with a sunset walk along the coast in the village of Santa Maria La Scala.

Ezra making a snowball near the top of Mt. Etna, Sicily, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!

For more vegetarian sides, try my Persimmon Cranberry Sauce, Butternut Hummus & Deviled Eggs , or Nutty Cauliflower Rice Pilaf.

P.S. The Forest Feast Mediterranean is on sale now and makes a great host gift!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a peaceful and delicious holiday feast!

Holiday Gift Guide 2012

1.) State of California cutting board, Etsy, $28. (they have other states, too)

2.) 8" Round Ash Wood Cutting Board, Terrain, $20. (they have larger ones, too)

3.) Hickory Wood Coasters, Terrain, $26.

4.) Temporary tattoos, Tattly, $5 for set of 2. (fun stocking stuffer!)

5.) White Floating paper Sky Lanterns, Amazon, $15. (for New Years Eve?)

6.) Scratch Off World Map, Urban Outfitters, $34. (like a lottery game, scratch off places you’ve been!)

7.) Tiny Silver Letter pendant, Etsy, $15.

8.) Whiskey Stones, Sur la Table, $20. (so you don’t water down that precious bourbon!)

9.) Cocktail Mixing Glass Set, Umami Mart, $50.

10.) The Forest Feast Recipe Greeting Cards , Umami Mart, $15. “Cocktail Party Pack” of 8 different recipes for entertaining. (order by Friday for Xmas delivery)

11.) CSA, $20 to $350. Buy someone a CSA (community supported agriculture) membership for a weekly box of local produce delivered from a farm. To find a farm near you, click here. Prices and subscriptions vary- but an average 14 week membership for an individual is about $200 (and approx $350 for a family size box). By paying for the produce at the beginning of the growing season, you can really help a local farmer. Some farms offer subscriptions for about $20/week.

12.) For a charitable gift, I recommend making a donation in someone’s name to Edible Schoolyard, Alice Waters’ organization that aims to build a sustainable food curriculum for all schools.

Holiday Gift Ideas

I have designed some Forest Feast products that are now available at the Umami Mart Shop in Oakland (and also online). Order by Friday and receive them by Christmas. The recipe cards and little prints make great stocking stuffers for foodies!

1.) The Forest Feast Recipe Greeting Cards “Cocktail Party Pack”. 8 different recipes for entertaining, $15. (available on the online shop, order by Friday for Xmas delivery)

2.) The Forest Feast mounted fine art photo prints are for sale, various sizes and prices ranging from $25 (5x7") up to $300 (30x40"). To order send an email to: shop@umamimart.com.

3.) Stool upholstered in my orange tree photograph: $150. At the shop in Oakland or by special order: shop@umamimart.com

4.) Antique wooden chair upholstered in my orange tree photograph: $400. At the shop in Oakland or by special order: shop@umamimart.com

Umami Mart is at 815 Broadway, Oakland. (510) 575-9152

Persimmon Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Jonathan and I left the woods for the beach and we’re spending the holiday weekend with my family in Santa Barbara. I am blogging for Better Homes and Gardens now, so I tried their New Cranberry Sauce recipe this year and it’s delicious! It has onions, garlic and persimmon, which give it a fantastic flavor. For more photos of this dish and my beachy Thanksgiving, check out today’s post on the Better Homes and Gardens website.