Beer-Battered Green Beans

So, we've been a little MIA lately. We had computer issues that ended up being a bigger deal than I thought because we needed that computer for our photos. We also had a photo shoot for our "about the author" section with V.K.Rees Photography that was literally magical. She was able to take photos of me that I actually like. It's was like some kind of Harry Potter moment. I've been setting up 2 completely awesome contests for December. You're going to love these. And of course, there is the book...

The deadline for the manuscript for our book is about 2 weeks away and I admit I'm nervous and excited and busy. There's the recipe testing and writing and the typing out of recipes and then double checking there's no typos and just so much to do. I've been so terrified of mistakes and I've literally been micromanaging myself while being excited to finally have the best job in the world.

I had to stay in Brooklyn over Thanksgiving and missed out on The Shannons' Annual Vegan Feast. I can tell you I did make the best of it by getting a lot done - including a Peking Tofurky with drumsticks and Asian vegetable wild rice. But I missed going to Boston to see everyone and spending the holiday with family. This is the first time I have missed Thanksgiving since Dan and I became "us" and it was kind of sad.

But enough with the sad stories, today we're going to talk about Beer Battered Green Beans. You've seen Green Bean French Fried whatever on the menu of all those TGIF-ish places. I've always kind of joked that this trend was a dubious attempt at "healthy fries" after Super Size Me*. I mean after that movie, everybody seemed to be deep frying their green beans. Weird or wonderful? Maybe both.

Having said that - These fries are good! They are delicious. I mean I was really shocked at how fraking good these fries were. Green beans are one of my very favorite vegetables so it was fun to play around with a new way to make them but you have been warned just because these little guys are green doesn't mean they are "health food"... They are a fun, vegan, basket of food that will go great with a cold beer and some Hockey. We should love them for who they are.

Game on!





 Beer-Battered Green Beans 

• 1 Pound Fresh Raw Green Beans (stems broken off) 
• 1 Cup IPA Beer 
• 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon Dried Parsley Flakes
• Pinch Freshly Ground Black Peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon Hot Sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• Vegetable Oil for frying 

Heat oil on high until it begins to slightly bubble.

Whisk together Beer, Flour, Creole Seasoning, Parsley, Black Pepper, Hot Sauce and Garlic Powder in a large bowl. Test your oil with a little bit of the batter. Once your batter fries the instant it drops in the oil - you're ready.

Dip Raw Green Beans into the batter one at a time and immediately drop into hot oil. Only fry a few at a time so your Green Beans don't fuse together into some kinda hydra beast. Fry until they are a light golden brown and then move to a paper towel to drain off extra oil. Keep in mind your Green Beans will darken a bit as they cool so don't fry them too long. You want a nice golden brown crust.

Your Green Beans are going to fry very quickly. Once they are all fried and cooled enough that they are still warm but you can eat them with your hands, serve them with a side of catchup, mustard or  my favorite A-1 Steak Sauce.


* There was also some low-carb health claim around then too. But can we please all agree we're enjoying Beer Battered Green Beans only once in awhile and for fun and that in no way are they going to help you lose weight? XO