Easy Green Bean side dish

I've recently joined Weight Watchers and I'm making a conscious effort to include veggies at every meal. I like veggies, in fact, I'm always trying to convince Bear and The Boy to try a meat-free dinner more than once in a while. Bear hates veggies though. He actually picks them out of dinners I make. It's frustrating sometimes. I've told them both that I will be making them almost every meal and they'll just have to deal. Luckily, I can tell The Boy he doesn't have an option and he's pretty willing to eat them. One of his favorites is Green beans with tomatoes and garlic. My Mom has made this in years past at Holidays. I associate it with growing up Italian, but I don't really know the origin of this dish. This is how I prepare it though and I got compliments from BIL & SIL at Easter, so I'll definitely be making it again! Also, it's something simple that your kids can help you with if you have them cooking with you.

Green Beans with Tomatoes and Garlic
Serves approximately 4 adults

1 lb. fresh green beans, with ends snapped off
3-4 cloves of garlic (depending on your personal preference)
3 medium sized tomatoes diced
1 tbsp. EVOO (for WW people you can also use cooking spray but I find that it works better with oil)
Basil
Black pepper

Rinse the dirt off the green beans and then snap the ends off them. Snapping the ends off green beans is a great activity for your kid helper to do while you're chopping the other ingredients. I spent many a Summer snapping beans at my Grandmother's growing up. Peel and mince the garlic up and also dice the tomatoes. I saw a great trick on the Food Network show "Barefoot Contessa" where Ina took a spoon and scraped the pulp out before dicing the tomato. Works like a charm! The veggies prepared should look like this:
This is just a portion of the green beans as I couldn't fit everything on the cutting board for a pretty picture. LOL I also foolishly didn't take any photos during cooking or once it was done because I was distracted by family. Silly TEE!

After the veggies are prepared, heat up a skillet with the EVOO. Add the green beans first and saute them for about 3 minutes. Till they start to firm up a bit. Next add in the tomatoes and saute for about another minute or two. Finally add in the garlic. I try to add garlic in last just because I don't want to burn it. Burned garlic taste BAD! Saute until you can smell the garlic. Add the black pepper, basil and oregano. Mix them together and let cook for about 30 seconds. Take off the heat and into a serving dish. VIOLA! Green beans that my son will eat and maybe your kids will too!

For Weight Watchers folks that are doing points a serving of this side dish is just ONE point! Plus, the beans and tomatoes are on the filling foods list. You can't beat it. It's quick and easy and a great way to incorporate more veggies into your diet.