Easy Vegetable Recipes

Green Beans with Bacon

This couldn't be any easier. Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. Add the bacon, the beans and the water to a pot large enough to hold all of the ingredients. The amount of water you use will depend upon the size of the pot you use and how long you will cook the beans. You don't want to add so much that you have to drain the beans after cooking, so start low and add more as you cook.

Add some salt for flavoring, and a little bit of garlic. Everyone's taste for garlic is different, and you don't want this dish to be overwhelmed by the garlic. Maybe start with two teaspoons and taste the dish after the beans are soft. You can always add more. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to add a couple of tablespoons. I prefer to add the pepper at the table.

Cook the beans on medium-low heat until the beans are soft and have absorbed the grease from the bacon. This will take 30-60 minutes. There is no hard and fast rule for how long to cook them. Just check them periodically to see if you need to add more water, and to see if they are soft. Soft means real soft - almost, but not quite, mushy. They should be pale green, and not bright like they were straight from the package.

NOTE: You can cook these in a slow cooker. Two hours on high should be enough - four hours on low. In this case, use very little water. You can also cook them in a pressure cooker if you are in a hurry. If you want to take the time to trim them, fresh green beans are great. Use two pounds of fresh and snap off the ends. This recipe makes a lot, but you can freeze them if you want. Odds are you won't because they won't last that long.