Green Beans with Bacon

Ingredients:

– 1 lb (450 g) fresh green beans, trimmed
– 6-8 slices of bacon
– 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
– 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (optional)

 Instructions:

1. **Prepare the Green Beans**:
– Wash and trim the ends off the green beans.
– If you prefer, cut the green beans into smaller pieces.

2. **Cook the Bacon**:
– In a large skillet or frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy.
– Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel to drain. Once cooled, crumble or chop the bacon into smaller pieces.
– Reserve a few tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.

3. **Cook the Green Beans**:
– In the same skillet with the bacon grease, add the green beans.
– Cook the green beans over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8-10 minutes or until they are tender but still crisp.
– If using, add the chopped onion and garlic to the skillet after about 5 minutes of cooking the green beans. Cook until the onion is soft and the garlic is fragrant.

4. **Combine and Season**:
– Once the green beans are cooked, add the crumbled bacon back to the skillet.
– Toss everything together to combine.
– Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add a little olive oil or butter for extra flavor.

5. **Serve**:
– Transfer the green beans and bacon to a serving dish and serve hot.

Enjoy your delicious green beans with bacon!