You know when you were growing up you’d go to your grandma’s house and you’d eat some pretty classic foods?  Like, at my grandma’s house we’d have chocolate cake that came in a foil pan, and the fruit salad with marshmallows and tinned fruit, laughing cow cheese.  I’m sure she served real meals too, but let’s be real, those are the items that stood out to me.

The other day I decided to make a green bean salad, and I realized that it’s totally something a grandma would make.  It’s simple and delicious and perfect for the summer.  Definitely something a grandma would make.  It’s good (not as good as the chocolate cake in the foil pan, though), and makes a lovely addition to a barbecue, or even a dish for lunch.

Enjoy it with your grandma if you’re lucky enough to have her near by.

Green Bean Salad:

• 3 cups of fresh green beans, washed
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds

Snap off the ends of the beans that attach them to the vine, and then snap each bean in half.  Meanwhile, boil a pot of water, enough to hold all of the beans.  At the same time, place an equal sized bowl of cold water in your fridge.  Once the water is boiling, plunge your beans into the water and cover and let cooke for 3-4 minutes until the beans are par-boiled.  Drain them and place them in the cold water in the fridge.  Leave them there for about 30 minutes until they’ve fully cooled.  Drain them and combine them with the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and place them in the fridge overnight.  The longer they marinate the more flavour they pick up.