I’ve just returned from spending a week with my family in Texas. Since my parents have a garden, we spent a lot of time picking various vegetables. One afternoon, my boys and I picked a bunch of green beans, snapped and cleaned them. The boys just could not wait until we cooked the beans they had worked so hard on, so I decided that cornbread and the pot of green beans, potatoes and onions would be for dinner.

Of course, I had to allow the boys to help. Holden was in charge of peeling and cutting the potatoes. I made the mistake of cutting the “example” potato a little small...not thinking that Holden would cut his that same size...or smaller. My brother came over and noticed the big pot on the stove and told me how wonderful his green beans and potatoes were, which was agreed to by everyone in the room. So, I told him to do his magic. After adding a few more spices and butter...lots and lots of butter, it was time to sit back and wait.

As I went to stir the pot, with my brother standing over my shoulder, we both noticed that the potatoes had disappeared. My brother said to me, “Sis, you did say you added potatoes, right?” Yes, I told him and we decided perhaps we should add a few more. This time, cutting them much larger. As I stirred the pot, I said to mom, “This looks like my potato soup!”

By the time it was done, the pot of green beans and potatoes definitely looked like potato soup with something green in it. Although it did not look anything like what it should, it tasted wonderful. We all joked at the “new dish” we had created and enjoyed it for dinner, lunch the next day and then dinner again. Not one person complained about leftovers...instead, complained when there was none left.

If you would like to try this dish for yourself, below is the recipe...well, as close as I can remember since three of us all pitched in. The main thing is, cut the potatoes small enough to break down and add larger cut pieces later to add texture.

Green beans with potato and onions:

(note: amounts vary depending on how much you would like to make, so I will just include ingredients and not amounts for each)

• Fresh, snapped green beans
• Potatoes
• cut about half into 1-2” cubes - Add immediately
• cut the other half in quarters - Add once beans begin to get tender
• Onion - cut into large pieces
• Butter - he used about 1/2 - 3/4 cup for a large pot of beans. (or maybe even a little more!! LOL)
• Garlic Salt
• Pepper
• Table Salt
• Parsley
• (add a little cayenne pepper)