When your cupboard is bare but the freezer holds one bag of green beans, steam them and dress them with garlic and butter over pasta. This comes together in the time it takes water to boil, and tastes like you planned ahead.

Serves 2. 20 minutes, 8 at the stove.

About 540 calories a serving, 15 g protein, 77 g carbohydrate, 20 g fat. From USDA figures for 100% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

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1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add 6 oz egg noodles, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes.10 min
2. While the noodles cook, steam the green beans in the microwave: pour the full bag into a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a plate, and heat on high for 4 minutes until heated through.4 min
3. Mince 3 garlic cloves. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.2 min
4. Drain the noodles, add them to the skillet with the garlic butter, then drain and add the steamed green beans. Toss everything together over the heat for 1 minute, season with salt and pepper, and serve.2 min

Note Swap the butter for olive oil and add a squeeze of lemon if you prefer. Leftovers keep in a covered container for three days and reheat well in a skillet with a splash of water. Serve with grated Parmesan or a simple green salad alongside.