These were an attempt to do something different with my normal veggies while following a food plan during boot camp.  They turned out really well! It was a nice change from my traditional green beans. I normally make them with salt, sugar, and sometimes meat, so I was proud of these. 🙂

Spicy Sauteed Green Beans

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups frozen cut green beans

1/2 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning

1 teaspoon minced onions

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon Splenda

Directions

Heat oil on medium heat in a medium or large saucepan.  Add remaining ingredients and sautee for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.  Cover and cook on low until beans are cooked to your preference.

Ingredients

* 2 1/2 lbs turnip, collard or mustard greens, washed and chopped into 1-in. pieces
* 3 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 2/3 cup chopped onions
* 1 or 2 dashes cider or red wine vinegar
* salt and pepper to taste (start with 1 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper)
* 1 tbs sugar

Directions

1. Fry the bacon in a pot large enough to cook the greens.
2. Add the greens along with onions.
3. Cook on low heat, stirring with wooden spoon, until greens are coated with bacon fat (about 2 minutes).
Pour off excess fat.
4. Cover the greens with water and season with salt and pepper.
5. Bring to boil. Add sugar.  Cover the pot, reduce heat, and simmer until tender (time will vary, about 1 hour).
Stir occasionally and add water if they threaten to scorch. When done, increase heat to med-high, stir often. Boil off nearly all the cooking liquid.
6. Add vinegar. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Serve very hot.

From: Southern Recipes- Southern Food

My mom recently gave me some squash that she grew in her vegetable garden.  I was grateful but… I had no idea what to do with it! Believe it or not, I’ve never made or even eaten squash before. Well, I assume I had it when I was a little girl but I don’t remember. If I did, I must not have liked it because I’ve never had the desire to eat it.

I looked up a few recipes and asked for help on my cooking board.  There were some great casserole suggestions and someone mentioned grilling or roasting them.  Then someone said, “Make it like you make your cabbage!” Well, that sounded easy enough for my first time. I planned to make it with onions and then my mom suggested green peppers as well.  So, I thinly sliced the squash and sauteed it over medium heat in a little olive oil with sliced green peppers and onions.  I seasoned it with kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and marjoram.  And I liked it! Hey mom- I ate my squash! 🙂

This used to be one of my favorite vegetable dishes that my mom made when I lived at home. I think she would like mine, too.  So good! It’s really good with bacon, too.

Fried Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 1/2 -1 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• one cabbage head, sliced or chopped
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp and 1/3 cup water
• kosher salt
• pepper

Directions

Cook onions and garlic in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add cabbage, sugar, and 3 tablespoons of water. Mix well. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top. Cook over medium heat until tender, about 20 minutes.  Stir frequently. Drizzle more oil over cabbage if necessary. Add more salt and pepper to taste as cabbage cooks.  Add 1/3 cup cup of water; cover and cook over medium low heat until cooked to your liking.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
6 cups broccoli florets (about 1 head)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (I used minced garlic)
1/4 cup water