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3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1½ tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, minced
Freshly cracked black pepper
½ lemon, zested and juiced
Directions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saute pan, toast the almonds over medium-high heat until golden brown and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the pan, finely chop, and set aside.
3. Blanch the string beans in salted boiling water until crisp but tender, 2-3 minutes. The salt will impart flavor as well as help keep the string beans crisp. Immediately drain and run cold water over the beans or plunge into an ice bath to cool and stop the cooking process, then remove and completely dry.
4. Return the saute pan to the burner over medium heat and melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the shallots, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 3-5 minutes. Toss the drained beans with the shallots and add the lemon zest and juice. Cook to heat the beans completely through, 1-2 minutes.
5. Remove from the heat and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Toss with the toasted chopped almonds and transfer to a serving dish.
Peach Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Basil Vinaigrette
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds heirloom tomatoes, roughly chopped
4-5 ripe peaches, sliced into wedges
½ cup crumbled feta cheese, for garnish
Basil Vinaigrette:
¼ cup torn fresh basil leaves
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup good-quality sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small shallot, roughly chopped
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper
Directions
1. For the dressing: Combine the basil, olive oil, vinegar, honey, Dijon, and shallots in a blender until the dressing emulsifies and the basil is pureed. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Combine the tomatoes and peaches in a bowl and toss to coat with the dressing. Top with the feta cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Kelsey Nixon is the Emmy-nominated host of Kelsey's Essentials on the Cooking Channel, which kicked off its fifth season July 3 (Wednesdays at 8pm). On the show, Nixon offers savvy tips on must-have pantry items, the latest gadgets, and essential kitchen techniques such as roasting, baking, and knife skills. She is mom to 1-year-old Oliver and lives with her family in Brooklyn.
