Green Bean Bacon Bundles

This recipe caught my eye because it’s company-pretty, and bakes while you finish up your other meal preparations.  I blanched my beans a day ahead and refrigerated them, and I bake my bacon and freeze it ahead of time all the time, so I simply had to let a few slices thaw to use them. 

I used bacon from my brother-in-law’s homestead hog, and that and the tasty topping really made the dish.  I didn’t bother to pin the bacon together, and used a small pancake turner to lift them from the pan to the platter or dinner plate.  The smaller bundles were easier to handle and keep together than using full-size pieces of bacon.

This recipe had one big benefit…it tasted as good as it looked. 

Green Bean Bacon Bundles

  8             Slices  Thick-sliced Bacon

  1 1/2      Pounds  Green Beans -- blanched

  6             Tablespoons  Butter -- melted

  1 1/2      Teaspoons  Salt

     3/4      Teaspoon  Garlic Powder

     1/4      Cup  Light Brown Sugar -- packed

Preheat the oven to 350°.  Line a baking sheet with non-stick foil or foil sprayed with non-stick spray.

Cook bacon in a large fry pan for 4-6 minutes, or bake on racks in 400° oven for 15 minutes.  Drain on paper towels and cut in half crosswise.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, salt, garlic powder and brown sugar.

Divide the green beans into 16 equal portions, about 6 beans each.  Gather each portion into a bundle and wrap a half slice of bacon around it.

Drizzle the butter-sugar mixture over the beans evenly. 

Roast at 350° until cooked through and browned, 20-25 minutes.  Transfer to a warm platter and serve.

8 servings – 2 bundles each

Per Serving: 190 Calories; 15g Fat (68.6% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 34mg Cholesterol; 696mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 2 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma