Green Beans, Walnuts, & Cranberry Vinaigrette

The Go Red for Women annual luncheon Friday was an amazing day full of energy, success, motivation, and heart disease awareness. I'm always amazed by women who have the courage to share their health struggles with others.

I encourage you to visit their webpage often for tips to create and maintain heart healthy!

Our heart healthy lunch was sponsored by Hy-Vee and they had a great healthy eating booth display with samples. Here's one of my favorites!

Green Beans with Toasted Walnuts and Dried-Cranberry Vinaigrette

Walnuts and walnut oil contains heart healthy omega 3 fats. Cranberries are a source of pectin - a soluble fiber that helps to lower cholesterol. Enjoy this great make-ahead side dish for the holidays, in lieu of a less healthy green bean casserole!

1/3 Cup walnut oil

1/3 Cup minced shallots

3 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Sherry wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons chipped fresh mint

1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus additional for sprinkling

1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries chopped

1 1/2 pounds trimmed slender green beans

1/2 Cup walnuts, toasted, chopped

1. Whisk oil, shallots, vinegar, mint, salt, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in small bowl. Mix in dried cranberries. Set aside.

DO AHEAD vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature; rewhisk before using.

2. Fill large bowl with water and ice; set aside. Cook green beans in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain Immediately transfer to bowl with ice water. cool. drain.

DO AHEAD can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in paper towels; enclose in resealable plastic bag and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.

3. Toss green beans, walnuts, and vinaigrette in large bowl.

DO AHEAD can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Transfer to platter and serve

Optional: You may add 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard to vinaigrette in step 1 if desired. You can also garnish with crumbled goat cheese (step 3). Goat cheese is lower in calories and fat compared to most other types of cheese.