Green Beans with Lemon and Garlic

It's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving!!!  I don't know about you, but I sometimes get so caught up in the details of the turkey and the dressing and the desserts that I forget we might need something that doesn't involve carbs in this meal!  This is a super simple, flavor filled recipe that one person can throw together at the last minute while everyone else is getting the food and drinks on the table.  You can use fresh or frozen green beans and it is easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.  Enjoy!

Green Beans with Lemon and Garlic (adapted from foodnetwork.com)

1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 T. unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t. crushed red pepper
1 lb. frozen thin green beans (if you are using fresh green beans you will want to trim the ends and blanch in boiling water for about 3-5 minutes before sauteing)
1 T. lemon zest
1 t. salt
1/2 t. black pepper

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat and allow the butter to melt.  Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and allow to sizzle until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the green beans and saute until heated through and coated with butter and olive oil, about 5-10 minutes.  Add the lemon zest, salt and black pepper and toss to combine.  Serve immediately.

4 servings (93 calories each serving) according to my calculator on loseit.com