Growing up, my paternal grandmother often made a particular green bean recipe for dinners at her house, usually served with meatloaf or roast beef. I always loved them and couldn’t get enough of them. When I was old enough to be out on my own, I asked her for the recipe. She told me it was just hot German potato salad made with green beans instead of potatoes. She often would use artificial sweetener for the sugar which doesn’t happen at my house, and she always used canned green beans whereas I use fresh or frozen. Still, they are called Grandma’s Green Beans at my house and are a favorite. Anything with bacon and onions has to be good! I will often make a double batch using a whole package of bacon just so that I can have leftovers.

Grandma’s Green Beans

Grandma’s Green Beans

5 slices nitrate-free bacon
1 medium white or yellow onion, diced (1/2-3/4 cup)
1 pound fresh or frozen organic green beans (or 2 cans of drained green beans)
1 tablespoon organic cornstarch
1 tablespoon organic sugar or 2-3 drops of stevia extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon organic celery seed
1/8 teaspoon organic black pepper
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup organic white vinegar

In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix together the cornstarch, sugar/stevia, salt, celery seed, black pepper, water and vinegar. Set aside.

In a large frying pan, cook the bacon and set aside. (Keeping household members from eating the cooked bacon is always a challenge for me at this point.)

Remove half of the bacon grease from the pan and dispose of in a responsible manner.

In the remaining bacon grease, saute the diced onions until almost cooked over medium heat. Add in the green beans. Cook until green beans are done. Add in the liquid mixture and cook for a minute or two longer, allowing it to form a thicker sauce that coats everything in the pan.

Remove from heat. Crumble the bacon on top. Serve warm, but leftovers taste great cold or warm.

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