Unbeanlievably delicious

What's your most hated vegetable?

Broccoli? - this maligned vegetable received extra scrutiny back in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush vowed that, as the most powerful man in the free world, he would no longer eat it.

Beets? Lots of people dislike beets. I myself never tasted a beet until adulthood, though now I love them. And beets are on the menu these days, in many a fine restaurant.

Brussels sprouts? Once hated, now a new trendy hit in restaurants, roasted with garlic and bacon.

Lima beans? Suffering succotash! I think it's high time for the rehabilitation of the lima bean, and I have just the recipe to do it.

Greek Style lima beans

1 (10-ounce) package frozen baby lima beans
1 cup water
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

 Put all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer, covered, over a low heat for 20 minutes. Serve.

I made some this evening to compliment a grilled pork tenderloin. I didn't have any parsley, but I had the leafy tops of some celery, so I chopped that up. I also tossed in some dried thyme, red pepper flakes, and some chopped onions.

Simple, isn't it? You cannot believe how good this is. There's a richness to it that surprises. You can add some variations - chopped mint leaves perhaps. Different herbs. A chopped tomato, or some chopped bell peppers of any color. You can toss with feta cheese, perhaps. Or use chicken broth instead of water, for even more flavor.

Of course, it's better with fresh shelled beans, but what's amazing about it is that it's great even with frozen beans. You can have a package in your freezer and use them any time you're at a loss for fresh veggies.

Vegetable rehabilitation! What's next?