green and white bean salad

Tomorrow is June 1.

I know, I can’t believe it either.

May has come and gone before my very eyes. All I have to say is whoever came up with the phrase “April showers bring May flowers” was lying. It rained all May long. While my garden was happy, I was not.

Somewhere in the midst of the 40 degree weather Chicago had perpetually been having, spring has sprung. And by sprung, I mean… it’s 90 degrees outside.

For as long as I can remember, Chicago doesn’t take weather lightly. Ooooh no. You see, in Chicago, we have two seasons – winter and summer. Everyone is under the assumption that we have four seasons, but we really don’t. Spring and fall are a tease – a myth that society has forced us to say we are a part of. It’s not true. It’s a lie. It’s a conspiracy theory – and I am here to tell you the truth.

In Chicago, winters are brutal. Winters are cold. When I say cold, I don’t just mean “cold”. I mean when you walk outside, it actually hurts to breathe. The wind whips at your face with such intensity that you are left stinging. And when you finally get to take your gloves off when you get back inside, it takes at least five minutes and 30 seconds under scorching hot water for your fingers to actually start bending again.

Just thinking about it is making me shiver.

The other season? Summer.

Summers in Chicago means heat. Before there was ever talk of global warming, Chicago has been burning up – I wouldn’t be afraid to take an egg to the sidewalk. I am more than certain it would cook. One wouldn’t think Chicago would have horrid heat in the summer with it being so far north, but it is brutal. I wouldn’t mind the heat so much, you see, but then again… there’s the humidity. Oh humidity… you make me want to buzz cut my hair and constantly float in the pool I don’t have. In Chicago, once you step outside in the summer, you are instantly covered in sweat. There’s no such thing as “dry heat” around here – I don’t even think I know what that means.

And now I am more than certain I have enticed you all to come visit me in Chicago.

 
If you come, I promise I will make you this green bean salad.

Because let’s face it – when it’s 90 degrees outside and you live in a 1,000 sq. foot home, turning the oven on isn’t the smartest idea in the world. Take it from someone who has tried that before. Read my lips words: I am not always very bright. Therefore, when it is warm outside, I eat cold food. Salads, smoothies, fruits – I am not a fan of sweating while I eat. Or of sweating in general.

Green and White Bean Salad (serves 3-4 side dishes)

• 3 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
• 1 can white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tomato, deseeded and diced
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cucumber, sliced thinly and halved
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp. dijon mustard
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• garlic, salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Trim and halve your green beans and place in a large bowl with 2-3 inches of water. Steam in the microwave for 3-4 minutes and immediately transfer into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Dry your green beans off and combine with the white beans, tomato, onion, and cucumber. Add the ingredients for the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until ready to to be served!

 
The great thing about this salad is it can be easily warmed up – because let’s face it. I’m kind of expecting to wake up tomorrow and it be 40 degrees outside again.

Get it together Chicago… get it together.

Question: What are the seasons like where you live?

Tagged as: chicago weather, cold salad, crazy weather, dijon mustard, fresh green beans, green bean salad, recipe, red onion, special diet, summer salad, white beans