The Backyard

The Backyard

Friday, August 31, 2012

Green Bean City


Earlier this year, our area experienced a quazi-drought and while everything continued to grow, it was a slow process.  As the blossoms were appearing on the beans, the dryness came and it stunted their growth.  My harvest at that time was about 14 pounds.  I thought the beans were about finished.  Then the rains came.... and a month later the beans decided to go wild and already at another 14 pounds with possibly that many more to go have been picked.  Hubby loves beans.  So this year I'm learning new ways to use up the green beans.  We've made many fresh and gobbled them up, and I froze a couple bags but am not a fan of frozen green beans.  I'm not canning them because of the need for pressure canning (and I don't have a pressure canner).   Earlier this week, I found a recipe in the Ball Canning cookbook for Pickled three bean salad.  Bingo!  I used two beans and subbed the kidney beans for the limas since my limas aren't quite ready yet (they too are experiencing a re-growth and I may be overrun with lima beans in another two weeks also).  The results were incredible.   I told hubby I found a new way to use up green beans.  Last evening, while picking the beans, I decided to make ham, green beans and potatoes today and thought why not make a BIG pot and freeze some?  So that's what's on tap for this weekend.   Oh the mighty green bean... and everything else in the garden.  Love it!

5 comments:

Dave @ HappyAcres said...

Green bean city - not there's a place I'd love to live! The drought did our beans in. But we got plenty before they died. I'm trying a few bush beans for a fall crop. We will see how they do!

I didn't use to like frozen green beans but I have gotten used to them. They are definitely different from canned ones, but the convenience of freezing them won me over.

Sustainably Modern said...

My family loves green beans too. We ate them as fast as they came in the spring. So for fall, I decided to plant an entire 4x8 bed with nothing but green beans.

Robin said...

I've never canned green beans. Since I don't have a pressure canner either. I freeze them. We do like them frozen.

The pickled three bean salad does look yummy!!

Cristy said...

I love green beans. I am so glad you shared the 3 bean recipe.

I'm with Dave. I'd love to live in Green Bean City.

ChrisJS said...

thanks for the green bean salad idea
chris