So a lot of my recipes are invented out of necessity.  Garlicky Green Bean Salad is definitely one of those.  I bought one of those big bags of beautiful thin green beans from that big box store C _ _ _ _ O.  I used half of them and the other half remained in the fridge for a week. When I finally uncovered them I knew I had to use them before they got slimy! This salad was the quick result derived from ingredients I had on hand.

You will need: 

1 lb fresh green beans, ends removed and cut into 1 inch pieces.
1/4 medium white onion or sweet onion.
3/4 cup marinated artichoke hearts sliced into bite sized pieces.
Salt
Pepper
Garlicky dressing – recipe below
Crisp bacon chopped (optional)

Directions:

• Blanch cut green beans in salted boiling water for about 2-3 minutes. You still want beans to be crisp.
• Drain beans and run with cold water to stop the cooking. Lay out on clean dry towel and allow to dry off.
• If you are using bacon, fry until crisp, drain, and chop into pieces.
• Finely chop onion and put into a medium sized bowl.
• Cut marinated artichoke hearts and add to bowl.
• Add dry green beans to bowl.
• Pour garlic dressing over beans, onion, artichoke hearts and stir until well coated.
• Let salad stand at least 2 hours before serving so all the flavors can marry together.
• Add chopped crispy bacon before serving.

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Two cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tsp good quality Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp sugar or honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Mix until ingredients come together, taste for seasoning, adjust as necessary.