A Mess of Beans

Grandma called it that--a mess.  I'm sure it was not something she brought over from Norway.  She was probably just talking "old farmer/garden" talk.  On any given day in the summer, she would cook up a mess of greens, a mess of beets, or a mess of peas.  One never referred to fruits this way, nor corn, but I'm certain you could have a mess of potatoes.

When the Things I get to do today mean bringing down the remnants of the bean vines, it gives an opportunity to glean the very last of the summer crop.  They looked spent six weeks ago, but a few little blossoms popped out, and as bean blossoms will do, they turned into beans.

Blessings Abound

So tonight we are celebrating our last mess (not mass--they aren't Catholic though they do have a nearly sacred flavor) of beans.









Minced garlic is added to the rosemary olive oil in the frying pan. Next the cut beans land in the hot pan. When they are all lightly seared, in go two tablespoons of water. And, quick, clamp on the lid.  Six minutes later, take off the lid, add salt, toss and serve. Hot, crunchy and reeking of garlic, this gleaned, past-the-end-of-the-season mess was better than dessert.  We are so blessed!