Green Beans with Shallots

In covered 5- to 6-quart saucepot, heat 3 quarts water and 1 teaspoon salt to boiling on high. Add green beans and cook, uncovered, 5 to 7 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain. Plunge beans into large bowl filled with ice water to chill quickly. Drain well. If not continuing with recipe right away, place well-drained beans in plastic storage bags and refrigerate until ready to use.

In same saucepot, heat margarine on medium-low until melted. Add shallots; cook 17 to 20 minutes or until tender and golden, stirring occasionally.

To mixture in saucepot, add green beans and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper; increase heat to medium-high, and cook about 5 minutes longer or until beans are heated through, tossing occasionally with tongs. Stir in mustard.

To make Classic Green Beans with Hazelnuts and Brown Butter: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast hazelnuts: Place 1 cup hazelnuts in 9" by 9" metal baking pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant and skins begin to peel away. Wrap nuts in clean kitchen towel. Using towel, rub off as much of the skins as possible (all of the skin may not come off). Coarsely chop nuts. Meanwhile, prepare green beans as above in step 1. In step 2, omit shallots and melt butter on medium-low. Add hazelnuts and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until butter is lightly browned, stirring. Complete recipe as in step 3, but omit mustard.

Each serving: About 145 calories, 4 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate, 3 g total fat (1 g saturated), 4 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 185 mg sodium.

To make Healthy Green Beans with Garlic: Prepare green beans as above in step 1. In step 2, omit shallots, and in place of margarine, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on high. Complete recipe as in step 3, adding 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, after beans are heated through; omit mustard. Cook 1 minute longer or until garlic is fragrant, tossing.

Each serving: About 50 calories, 2 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate, 2 g total fat (0 g saturated), 4 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 125 mg sodium.