Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   3/4    pound         fresh okra, uncut 
  4       tablespoons   olive oil 
                        Vinegar (optional) 
  1       medium        onion, diced 
   3/4    pound         fresh green beans 
  2       large         garlic cloves, crushed then chopped 
  1       cup           water 
  2       tablespoons   salt and freshly ground pepper 
  6       ounce         tomato paste

Preparation:

1. Wash okra pods, trim stems, do not remove caps. If desired soak okra in vinegar for 30 minutes to remove some of the stickiness. Rinse well and drain. Wash beans and cut into 3 inch lengths. Combine water, tomato paste, olive oil, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in a sauce pan and mix well.

2. Heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comet to boil. Add okra and beans and additional water if necessary to almost cover vegetables.

3. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently until vegetables are crisp-tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Note: This dish tastes even better after refrigerating overnight. The flavors blend into a wonderful taste sensation. Serve it warm or cold. This dish can also be oven-baked. Instead of simmering, lightly cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.