Old-Fashioned Seasoned Green Beans

Green beans are an easy and economical side dish that I serve often with my meals. One of our favorite ways of eating them is seasoned with bacon, which gives them a delicious smoky flavor.

This is the way my mom made green beans as I was growing up, and it's the same way I still make them today. The secret is in the long, slow cooking. They just don't taste as savory and delicious if you shorten the cooking time.

Old-Fashioned Seasoned Green Beans

Ingredients

3 - 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (reserve bacon grease)
1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, washed, trimmed, and cut in half or thirds (2 - 14.5 oz. cans green beans, drained, may be substituted in a pinch.)
3 - 4 cups water (You want enough water to barely cover the beans)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

Add green beans to a large pot, along with the bacon, reserved bacon grease, water, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook beans for 1 hour, covered. (Make sure to crack the lid a little so steam can escape.)
Check for seasonings and serve.

Note: If using canned green beans, reduce water to 1 cup, and cooking time to 20 - 25 minutes, until water is mostly evaporated.

Check the beans periodically, to make sure the water doesn't completely steam away. Most of the water will disappear, just make sure the bottom of the beans doesn't burn.

Shared with some of these Blog Parties.