Mediterranean Green Beans (South Beach Diet)

Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 TB extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 cup chopped seeded plum tomatoes (about 4 medium)
• 3/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
  

Directions:

1. Fill a 3-quart pot half full with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans and boil for 4 minutes or just until the beans are crisp tender. Drain the beans well and set aside. Add the olive oil to the pot used to cook the green beans and place the pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for a few seconds, until the garlic begins to turn color and smells fragrant. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Add the green beans to the mixture and toss to mix well. Serve hot. NOTE: I often steam frozen green beans instead of using fresh ones and we like to use grape tomatoes cut in quarters. Also, once beans are drained I put them back in the pot and add the rest of the ingredients all at once. Then cook until all is heated through. Much quicker and still tastes wonderful!