In my humble opinion, people don't change, but they do evolve.
Their priorities shift. Mine certainly have!
There was a time when I jokingly threatened my husband, that if he ever bought me something as practical as a toaster for a present, it would be a case for instant divorce. Of course I wasn't serious about the divorce, but I wouldn't have been happy if he decided to tuck something like a blender under the tree for me on Christmas morning.
I feel a bit differently now.
I have enough perfume and trinkets. I am beginning to prefer things to have some sort of practical application.
Hey, one Christmas soon I might even ask for the gift of a fancy mixer to replace the handheld model that I currently use.
There was a time in our marriage when my husband did most of the cooking. It was a simple matter of scheduling. In those days, he was home from work well before I was.
Now things have changed. I am the one doing most of the cooking. For me, cooking has become more than a matter of simply preparing meals. Rather late in life, I am trying to learn to cook the kind of food I like best to eat: fresh, light and healthy.
I read cookbooks.
I watch cooking shows and take mental notes.
I have even begun to acquire some fancy tools.
So when I saw Gardeningbren in Nova Scotia's post that featured, among other things, a fancy little bean slicer I got all excited.
I had barely finished reading Brenda's post when wasn't I off searching online looking for a local Paderno, so I could get a bean slicer of my own.
Bren's simple recipe for green beans sounded positively delicious!
I was dismayed to find that the only store in the area had closed and the company's website was next to impossible to navigate when looking for a specific tool.
I left my comment on Bren's post expressing my admiration for her Green Bean Noodles and my disappointment on not being able to find a place to purchase a bean slicer.
Sweetheart that she is, didn't she email me to say that she had an errand in the city, and would be passing by the local Paderno store, would I like her to pick me up a bean slicer?
I was so touched by her thoughtfulness! Garden bloggers are the best!
The bean slicer arrived a couple of days later in the mail. Thanks so very much Brenda!
As you can see, I immediately put the little gadget to good use.
Then she says to drain them, add a few drops of toasted sesame seed oil, and a slash of tamari. Top the beans with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds (I also added some fresh ground pepper).
Brenda suggests that the beans can be served hot or cold.
More Information and Links:
The Bean Slicer and Stringer can be found at a Paderno store near you.
Canadians can see more of Brenda's beautiful garden on Nova Scotia's south shore in the Fall 2012 issue of GardenMaking Magazine.
