Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

My favorite method to prepare vegetables is roasting. I love the way the flavor is released in the roasting process. I adding garlic for extra flavor along with pine nuts for crunch making the green beans a special side dish. Roasted Green Bean with Garlic and Pine Nuts 1 lb. cleaned green beans 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 cloves garlic, sliced in half 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 cup pine nuts, roasted Preheat oven 400F. Toss green beans with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place in baking dish. Top with pine nuts. Roast beans  until    slightly shriveled and have brown spots, 20 to 25 minutes.  

Can't get enough of salads, neither can I. Nor can I ever say no to delicious fresh picked tomatoes. Ah, this tomato and cucumber salad capture the essence of summer, cool, crisp and fresh. I've added a little spice and crunch to the mix creating a refreshing salad that compliments meat or fish. Ingredients 1 pound tomatoes, thinly sliced crosswise 1 pound gourmet cherry tomatoes, slice in quarters 1 thinly sliced English cucumber 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 2 medium scallions, dark green parts only, thinly sliced 1 medium jalapeno chile, thinly sliced crosswise 2 teaspoons toasted pine nuts 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Preparation Arrange tomato and cucumber slices on a platter. Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Drizzle dressing over tomatoes and cucumbers, and top with scalli...