Jeeze, Julia!

♥

This glass carboy is filled with wine that Ryan’s Grandfather made.

He made a lot of wine in his day, but this particular batch is very special because it was made the same year that Ryan was born. As if making your own wine isn’t neat enough, he grew his own grapes right in the backyard of his city home. We were talking last night about how cool it is when someone picks one thing and does it until it’s perfected. Maybe that’s how Ryan’s Grandfather was with wine, I know that’s how my Grandfather was with green beans.

Green beans may seem banal to some people, but I grew up in a family that really treasured the little veggies. That’s because my Grandfather was very proud of the crisp green beans that he spent so much time growing. In the summer we had communal dinners at our family’s Camp. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and our Grandparents would gather together after our long days in the sun to share classic barbeque foods. And, we would all hope that my Grandfather had brought up with him some of those famous green beans he grew.

Well, he’s not around anymore, but I won’t soon forget how amazing his green beans were — especially when they were prepared with love in our Camp’s kitchen. So, I thought it only appropriate that I bring some green beans to Thanksgiving this year. They’re not grown with his careful attention, but I’ll pick out the very best beans that I can find, and, following this recipe, I think I might be able to do them justice.

Does your family have any special foods or recipes?

xx.

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