Most people do green bean casserole for holidays but I say just do green beans any day! I prefer fresh or frozen and here’s why–they taste better. If you prefer the canned–this recipe will work, too. Of course for fresh, you will have to wash and snap them–for the frozen, it is already done. If you plan to use the canned, open the can–drain the liquid–and rinse. (That liquid does not taste good!) Rinse them good and you can use this same recipe.

Green Beans

green beans–canned–frozen–or fresh–make sure you get enough

1 or 2 onions, diced–depends on how many beans you need. 2 cans, 1 lb fresh or normal

size frozen needs one onion–if you need more beans–use 2 onions

bacon–2 slices for small and 3 slices for a large batch of beans–sliced to 1/2 inch or smaller

water, salt, pepper, garlic powder, olive oil

First, place the diced onion and bacon into a pot large enough for the beans. Add a small amount of olive oil until the bacon starts to render off the fat then add a sprinkle of salt. This will help the onions to sweat. Once the onions get tender (don’t worry, the bacon will not get crisp or overcook) add the beans and give it a good stir. Let it go for a minute or two–this lets the beans soak up the bacon and onion flavor. Then add water. I cover the beans–but only barely. Add some pepper and garlic powder and stir again. Let this cook for a while on medium heat. Water will cook out as the beans cook. Do not add salt yet as this will make the beans tough.

The cooking time will depend on how you like your beans. I like mine soft but others like theirs tender but crisp. After 30 minutes, pull out one bean and taste. If it’s not the way you like it wait 10 more minutes and taste another one. When you think it is almost there–add some salt–not much because the bacon has some salt too. Also, if you like your beans with potatoes, after the first 30 minutes, add some rough chopped or diced potatoes.

I have always cook these beans and had never used canned before but our youth group had an event and that’s all they had—canned! I told my daughter, because she was the one cooking, to rinse the canned and do it the same way. They LOVED them and no one could believe they were canned beans. You can do it, too. Enjoy!