My Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

1 lbs. fresh green beans
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper

Once the green beans have been washed and the tips removed, you'll want to get get a pot of water boiling. Salt the water. Once the water is at a rolling boil, throw your green beans in. It only takes about one or two minutes to blanch them. You'll notice they turn bright green. When they're done, strain them in a colander. Next, heat a skillet on medium heat. Add the olive oil. Once that's slightly heated, add the red pepper flakes. As the oil heats the rest of the way, you'll notice the red pepper flakes start to bleed out, making the oil extra spicy. Now add the minced garlic. Give that about 2 to 3 stirs. Add the green beans. You'll want to salt and pepper to taste, but don't go too crazy with the salt. The green beans should continue tossing the green beans, allowing them to saute. As the green beans start to get close to the doneness that you like, add the sugar and make sure to keep stirring. You don't want let the sugar sit because it will fall to the bottom and caramelize. You want the sugar to incorporate. If it ends up too hot, my suggestion is to add a little more sugar. To get a more Asian feel, you can add sesame oil to start (along with the olive oil) and also throw in a couple of splashes of soy sauce once the green beans are in. Enjoy!!