Valentine's Day Dinner - Green Bean Bundles

Mmmm...delicious. The first time I had green beans wrapped in bacon was at Christmas time two years ago after my maternal grandmother found a recipe for them. Ever since then, I have asked her to make them whenever the family gets together. And so of course I decided that I needed to make them for Brad and my dinner on V-day. I found a similar recipe online to my grandma's, except this one includes a sauce to drizzle over the beans once they are done cooking. I took a reviewers advice (lovestohos- jun '07) and sauted the beans up in the sauce before sticking them in the oven with the bacon and they were delish.

Green Bean Bundles
photo and recipe courtesy of Virginia Stadler

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
• 8 bacon strips, partially cooked
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons butter, margarine or bacon drippings
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the beans until crisp-tender. Wrap about 15 beans in each bacon strip; secure with a toothpick. Place on a foil-covered baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until bacon is done. In a skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Add vinegar, sugar and salt; heat through. Remove bundles to a serving bowl or platter; pour sauce over and serve immediately.