Green Beans Northwest Style

Ingredients

• 4 cups string beans, fresh

• 1/4 cup hazelnuts, raw

• 1/4 cup blue cheese*, crumbled

Roasted hazelnuts and blue cheese add just a bit of pizazz to a favorite vegetable.

Directions

• Remove ends from green beans and wash well.
• Toast hazelnuts in a toaster oven or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes, until the skins are dark brown. Cool. Remove skins of nuts by rolling them between your hands until the skin falls off. Discard skins. Chop nuts coarsely and combine with blue cheese in a small bowl.
• Bring about 2 cups (480mL) of water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan. Add beans and cook, covered for about 7 minutes, until they are bright green. Remove from heat and drain.
• Place beans in a serving dish and sprinkle with blue cheese and hazelnut mixture. Serve immediately.