Perfect Spicy Green Beans with Garlic

I've made this nearly every week this year, since Alex's mom sent us the recipe. It may be the perfect recipe. Healthy, cheap, easy to make, and without fail, delicious. Ladies, I bring you...

Perfect Spicy Green Beans with Garlic

Olive oil

Green Beans

Garlic - chopped or minced

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper

(all ingredients to taste)

Heat a pan (preferably cast iron) to medium high and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom.  Add the green beans, let them cook for a couple of minutes, flipping them occasionally so all get some exposure to the bottom of the pan.  Add garlic (I usually add a lot - at least 3 or 4 large cloves for a bag of green beans about the size of my head.  If you mince it, it will mix in more evenly, and if you chop it, it will go to the bottom of the pan and char into little garlicky char cubes.  I think they're delicious, but others may not like it.  Either way, if you love garlic, don't be afraid to be heavy handed here.)  Add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.  Let it cook on medium-high or high heat until the green beans char a lot and shrivel a little (it will be pretty smokey).  They should still be green, but have black marks.  If you like, you can serve them with a light drizzle of olive oil on top, but they're good as they are, too.