I think the heat may have affected my brain, because I thought it’d be a terrific idea to go running in the 97 degree Saharan desert that has become Iowa after work. 
It was pure insanity and I had to walk half of the last mile. 
I thought I would have to walk the entire last mile, feeling super sorry for myself, but as I rounded the corner with half a mile left, I passed by a guy walking on crutches. On crutches. He was walking in 97 degree weather on crutches!!! He wasn’t just walking from one place to another, either. He straight up had his workout clothes on and was exercising.
My shame meter spiked at that point, so I sucked it up and ran the rest of the way home. I practically kissed my air conditioner as I sprinted in the door!! 
Wanna know how I know the heat has really gone to my head?! I used both the stove AND oven for tonight’s dinner! It was totally worth it though, for Roasted Green Beans and Bacon Mac & Cheese!
First the beans. These babies looked too perfect to pass up at the store, so I picked up a bag. Now, I’ve made green beans a million times – steamed, sautéed, boiled…but I was craving something different tonight.
I was craving deep, salty roasted flavor, actually. "Would roasting green beans work??" I wondered to myself. There was only one way to find out!
I tossed the beans with extra virgin olive oil and garlic salt, then roasted them on a cookie sheet @ 425 for 13 minutes, and crossed my fingers.
14 minutes later (I restrained myself for 1 minute before swiping one to try!) I found out that you can roast green beans and THEY ROCK!!!!!!!! The green bean flavor intensifies and you can’t beat that yummy garlic salt. The best!
Now the Bacon Mac muwahahaha!
Last weekend both Ben and I were randomly craving Mac & Cheese at the same time. Making the coincidence extra weird was the fact that I was craving OG Kraft mac, while Ben wanted to make homemade. Huh?!
In the end, we made neither, as we were both too lazy to boil water. 
I’ve been thinking about it all week though, and finally caved tonight.
Cooking Light’s Bacon Mac & Cheese to the rescue!
Cheesy, creamy, salty and "light" – without sacrificing ANY flavor.
I used the same recipe and made the same modifications as I did last time. What a meal! 
Tonight I shall be snacking on some of theeeese…
and hopefully starting Twilight Eclipse. I finished reading New Moon last night and my Mom (who I borrowed the books from, who’s borrowing them from a friend) can’t seem to locate the last two books, Eclipse and Breaking Down, at the moment.
![Eclipse-Book-Three-twilight-series-36654_397_600[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/EclipseBookThreetwilightseries36654_397_6001.jpg "Eclipse-Book-Three-twilight-series-36654_397_600[1]")
I’m trying not to panic. This is the first day since Saturday that I haven’t been reading one of the Twilight books and I am addicted. ADDICTED I tell you. They are fantastic!!!!!
Cross your fingers for me!
Goodnight!
I can’t say that I think of Iowa as the Sahara right now…considering part of it is flooded!
Your bacon mac looks delish!
Get your reading glasses on! The last two books are found and waiting for you:)
Wohoo!!!!
You will LOVE the last book in the Twilight series the best! I am a high school English teacher and my freshmen girls three years ago got me hooked! I read the whole series in a matter of a couple of weeks
We only roast green beans. I have never boiled or steamed them! My husband likes them very crispy, so we roast them a lot longer. I am glad you liked them roasted!
Wow I would never have thought to roast beans!!!
The green beans look great! I like to roast vegetables in the oven too although I’ve never tried green beans. I roast asparagus in there as well as sweet potatoes, etc. Two weeks ago I roasted sweet potatoes (sliced up into the shape of a fry) in coconut oil in a glass pan. Man, were they great! The virgin organic coconut oil added some sweetness (for cooking you want virgin organic coconut oil-the refined coconut oil doesn’t have a coconut flavor). Just substitute virgin coconut oil any time you would use olive oil for some nice flavor.
Great job on the run. It’s been stifling hot here-I can’t even fathom moving in the heat, lol!
That mac n cheese looks TOO good!
I keep meaning to try this mac and cheese! I will have to keep this in mind the next time I’m at the store (or just dig deep throughout my kitchen, I probably have the goods…).
I knew you would like Twilight! If you don’t find the last two I would be happy to pop them in the mail and let you borrow mine!
you have good self control. i don’t think i could’ve waited to read the rest!!! hahaha.
I so want to try roasting green beans now…they look super yummy! I loved the twilight series and even read the entire series twice. Eclipse was my favorite book. And of course I’m so team Edward!
We LOVE roasted green beans at our house! I make them constantly! SO good!!
The Twilight series is so addicting! I had to read one right after the other because I couldn’t stop once I started!
I would never think to roast green beans. Veggies always taste better roasted so I’m going to have to try that.
I hope you find the books soon! I know that addicted feeling. Just wait til you read the final page of Breaking Dawn. It’s so upsetting to think it’s over. Stephenie Meyer needs to write more!
So funny b/c I made this bacon mac for dinner tonight after I saw your original post on here! It is AMAZING.
Just found your blog.
In love
Annnnnnnd I know what you mean about the Twilight series… that’s some serious business there!!!
I LOVED reading the whole 4 books… enjoy it!!! b/c when it’s over, there’s nothing quite like those books! lol 
Yum! I love your ideas. I might have to give the green beans a try!
I love roasted green beans! I even roast the frozen ones and it adds a whole new flavor to them.
I just finished reading New Moon, too. What did you think? Did Bella get on your nerves as much as she did mine?? I really liked Twilight, but I felt that New Moon was about 200 more pages than it needed to be:(
One – roasted green beans might just be my very favorite veggie. Two – literally minutes before reading your post I had decided to put that mac and cheese on my meal plan for next week!
When you finish Eclipse, you should pick up The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner – it’s a 200ish page novella with a plot that runs parallel to Eclipse. I’ve listened to about 3/4 of it, and so far, I like it! A whole different perspective on the Twilight universe.
I roast green beans often, love them that way!
I’ve roasted green beans a few times now, I think they are great! I haven’t read any of the Twilight series yet, but have seen the movies (except Eclipse, def need to get on that)….
crossed fingers!!!!
roasted green beans? wow, sounds great! as does that mac & cheese…
My coworkers got me convinced to give the books a try. I just finished Eclipse a few days ago and now I am going to start Breaking Dawn tonight hopefully!!! I know the last book will totally suck me in and make me obsessed! I will not be able to put it down since I don’t know what is going to happen, unlike the first three books where I saw the movies first. Exciting!!! You have a great blog! Thanks for sharing all your recipes and ideas!
I see Eclipse available at the Clive Library. If you have a library card you can hold it online!! or call in the am.
Yep read all of the twilight books in a week. Addicting fo sho! That bacon mac looks ahhhhhmazing
I’ve read that series too and it’s great! I haven’t seen the third movie yet though so I may rent it when it comes out. I have to ask though…when do you have time to read with work, exercise, cooking AND going to bed at a decent hour?
That bacon mac looks delish! Enjoy the books…they are good ones. I totally became addicted when I read that series!
You can roast anything! Isn’t it great? I’m roasting some TJs baby heirloom tomotoes tonight with some balsamic vin and olive oil—cannot wait!
I made that mac n’ cheese a while back, after seeing it here. You are RIGHT! It is unbelievable!
My sons girl friend just loaned me all the Twilight series…since we are so slow at work, I knocked out the first two and just started the third, hoping to watch the movies this weekend since it’s suppose to be 105 degrees without the heat index. You should try rueben mac & cheese, really different but delightfully tasty.
1) Great job on the run! It’s brutal out there!
2) I have some green beans in the fridge from the farmers market. Roasting them with olive oil & salt/pepper sounds delicious! I might have to do that tonight!
3) Your mac & cheese pics make me want to abandon 5 years of vegetarian eating….
I liked the last book the best, too. Enjoy!
We roast green beans and cherry tomatoes drizzled with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Roast in 425 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until tomatoes are caramelized and beans are tender. Also good roasted on the grill.
I love your blog and am excited for you on your Italian adventure. We were there 3 years ago to many of the places you mentioned. We loved it and have traveled to other European countries as well. Sooooo much to see. Enjoy your trip.
SO happy to hear you are getting into the books!! Told you they were better
I love your story about your run. That is exactly what I think about when I have fallen sluggish during a run. I have legs, I am healthy, I legit, CAN do this. Do it for the ppl that cannot and wish they could.
Why are veggies so much more delicious when roasted? Great mystery of life!
You are hardcore for braving the heat, I’ve been way too chicken and just go in the mornings.
Gotta try roasted green beans. Yum. Don’t you just love the Twilight series? I saw my high school students reading these books and asked them about the series. I decided over Christmas break to read Twilight (in 2 days) and was hooked.