Holiday Side Dishes: Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

• Servings: Serves 10-12
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes

Crisp tender green beans are wrapped with Stemple Creek Bacon and brushed with a simple brown sugar glaze that caramelizes as they roast. Easy to put together, these bundles make an impressive presentation at the holiday dinner table!

Ingredients

• 6 slices Stemple Creek Bacon, cut in half
• 1.5 pounds green beans, *preferably Blue Lake variety (figure 6 beans per bundle)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• sea salt & pepper to taste
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• toothpicks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. In a frying pan, warm bacon on the stovetop until just slightly cooked (not crispy!) Set aside. *Reserve bacon drippings.
3. Wash and trim ends of green beans. Bring a large pot of water to boiling. Add baking soda, then add green beans. Cook 3 minutes. Drain and place beans in an ice water bath for 5 minutes to stop further cooking.
4. Drain beans from ice water bath. Pat dry with a flour sack towel.
5. In a large bowl, combine reserved bacon drippings and garlic powder. Add green beans and toss to coat.
6. To assemble: bundle 6 green beans together and wrap with 1/2 piece of bacon. Skewer with a toothpick to hold bacon in place. Repeat until all beans are used.
7. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place green bean bundles, bacon seam side down, on the pan. Combine 1 tablespoon brown sugar with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to dab the bean bundles with sugar/water glaze. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt & pepper.
8. Roast on center oven rack for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and beans are lightly roasted.
9. Arrangel bundles on a serving dish and serve warm.

Cooking Notes

*Add a pinch of baking soda to the boiling water before cooking, and the beans will retain their bright green color!