Sometimes (almost all the time), Sheila and I accidentally match outfits.

I think one of the best was when we met up over Thanksgiving break during our freshman year of college and we were both wearing jeans, chestnut uggs, and green and white striped rugby shirts. And then had to walk around the mall together like that.

We also went through a phase (Sheila denies this, but it’s unfortunately true) where we both carried the same hot pink Clinique bag to school in place of a backpack. I’m 95% sure they were part of a Clinique bonus gift, and 100% sure it was not cool.

And we still both wear our green trenchcoats that we’ve had since high school, because they’re such a statement. Our AP Biology teacher in high school was a little strange but fantastic, and one of his goals was to catch someone smoking in the bathroom. In the morning he would check the boys rooms, and once he told Sheila and I we could check the girls and if there were any betches lightin’ up we could report back. He did not phrase it that way.

We then turned that request into a weekly “drug-busting mission” where we spent the first half of class out roaming the halls in our coats, occasionally checking a bathroom for a whiff of nicotine but mostly just being badasses skipping class and making our classmates green with envy in our green trenchcoats.

You know what else is green? These beans.

Spicy Garlicky Green Beans

1 lb green beans, rinsed and ends trimmed

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbs butter

salt and pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

medium sweet onion, sliced thin (optional)

Melt the butter in a frying pan, then add the beans. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute or two until the beans are the desired level of done-ness.

I of course can’t have garlic without onions, so I mixed some caramelized onions in with mine. Because clearly I didn’t already have enough butter in this dish.

With Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday you’re probably all wondering, “Who’s bringing the green bean casserole?”

And I’m thinking, “Does my family love me enough to watch me pick the french fried onions from the top?” These might be more ladylike.