thanksgiving » Living Lou

Green Beans in Vinaigrette

A Meatless Monday side dish today, green beans in vinaigrette! This is such a nice twist on the classic and succulent warm green beans, with a dollop of butter – which happen to be a favourite of mine! This dish adds layers to your meal, not only because it’s eaten cool, but the vinaigrette makes it very similar to a salad. Not only are these green beans the perfect side dish to your meatless Monday main such as Roasted Butternut Squash Soup or Baked Tortellini but it is also a great sweet and vinegary side dish for Thanksgiving!

Everyone knows how crazy busy things get on Thanksgiving, so why not make a simple, and sure to please side dish like these green beans in vinaigrette?

Green Beans in Vinaigrette
Recipe Adapted from: Martha Stewart

Ingredients
1-2 lbs green beans, ends trimmed
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp white-wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions

Have a bowl/pot of cold water prepared. Steam green beans for 5-8 minutes. I like steaming green beans because they turn a vibrant green and remain nice and crunchy as well.

Once they are done steaming, quickly move the beans to the water to stop them from cooking. Once cooled, dry off and place in your serving dish.

In a bowl whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Once mixed, pour over beans and toss to serve.

It’s that easy, and delicious. Yum!! Have a great Meatless Monday and be sure to put this on your list for Thanksgiving!

- Lou

Chocolate Pecan Pie

So, I sort of mentioned this in my last post, but we have a new look here at Living Lou! I really like this one a whole lot more than what we used to have! I hope that everyone (is there anyone out there?) who visits my blog likes it! Also, again, if anyone is out there, I’ve also got myself a twitter account… @Living_Lou come follow me!

Now, onto this magnificent pie. I’ve got to say, as I titled this post, my heart started beating in excitement and anticipation, and my mouth started watering… this is a pecan pie WITH chocolate chips. Seriously, does it get much better than that? You’re right, it doesn’t.

I was at a graduation dinner party for my best friend on Friday night, and her aunt brought the most magical pecan pie. Picture this: beautiful, glittery fairies, dancing in the shimmering moonlight… it was like that. OK, maybe not exactly like that… but it was the most extraordinary pie I’ve ever had.

I just had to get the recipe, and being the sweet and wonderful woman that she is, she gave it to me! I made this for Thanksgiving, and everyone loved it. I mean seriously loved it, there was one piece left, which quickly I devoured late that night, before my Dad could get to it.

I loved this pie so much, I was seriously considering making one the next day… and the day after that, and then again today. I can’t get over how positively perfect (that’s fun to say!) this pie is. Its got a sweet, crunchy crust, with a layer of chocolate chips in the filling, and then it’s topped with crunchy pecans.

For all of you Americans out there, I highly recommend you make this for Thanksgiving. I promise, it’s so easy, it’s literally the second pie I’ve ever made, and it turned out perfectly. Everyone will love you, and I promise you’ll be invited back next year. And for everyone else who’s either already celebrated Thanksgiving, or who doesn’t celebrate… make it this weekend, and the next weekend, and the next weekend… I know I will be!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ingredients
crust:
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar

filling:
3 eggs
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp vinegar (I used white wine)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (I pulsed mine in the food processor)
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

For the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a mixer, blend the ingredients together, it will have a crumbly texture. Press the dough into a pie pan, and bake for 10 minutes.

For the filling:

Using a mixer, blend the ingredients (excluding the chocolate chips and pecans) together with a mixer. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Once the crust is done, take it out of the oven and pour in the filling. Cover the top with the chopped pecans and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.

This is recipe is so easy, and it is utterly the perfect pie.

- Lou