Eulogy for Summer, and some Bangin' Beans

Alas, good things simply cannot last. And so it is with my favorite season of the year, summer. With today's temperature a mere six degrees Fahrenheit from freezing, it's clear as a summer's day that autumn's here to stay (I rhymed!).

Thus, an overly-sentimental (non-rhyming) eulogy is in order:

O, Summer day,
Your hearth-like touch
Fertilizes the earth,
From old deaths spring new life!

Small, green sprouts
Shyly poke their heads
Up into the unknown world,
Into your caress.

With your nurture,
these timid buds mature,
Transform!
Into leafy refuge for small creatures
Into ripe fruits, bountiful harvest,
For those unable to capture your essence
Purely, directly,
And must know you in cruder ways.

The earth is in your debt.
And yet, the cruel rotation
Of this ungrateful world
Is what extinguishes your flame.

The chills of your absence
Seeps into our marrow
And we wonder,
Why didn't we cherish you more?

But remember, dear Summer,
This ungrateful world is also
What births you.

And we wait expectantly for your return.

Ahem. Now that that's out of my system, let us proceed to celebrate the virtues of string beans, an example of the bounty of summer.

Serve it up hot, cold, canned or fresh, there no doubt about it: string beans are just about the most versatile vegetable out there. Today I'm going to share an Asian-inspired recipe for string beans that's quick and easy so you can cook up that last harvest of beans without wait!

Ingredients:
1/2 pound string beans
4-5 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp sesame oil
Soy sauce to taste
Chili powder to taste (optional)

1. Wash and place 1/2 pound of beans in a medium-sized saucepan. Fill the pan with half an inch of water and place on the stove with a high heat setting. When the water has boiled off, turn off the stove. The beans should still be slightly crisp.
2. While the beans are cooking, chop the garlic finely.
3. Heat the sesame oil in a pan and add the garlic, waiting until it cooks to a light brown color to add the beans.
4. Add a couple tablespoons of soy sauce and the optional chili powder right after you add the beans. If you'd like the beans to absorb more of the soy sauce, wait until they become softer. If you prefer a crispier texture, add more soy sauce to taste and remove them from the heat.
5. Serve plain or over rice and enjoy!

Scrumptiously savory with a wonderful garlic flavor, this recipe is enjoyed by people of all ages. Even finicky children will fall for its simplicity and most importantly, its deliciousness.

Bon appétit!