Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

This is one of the easiest sides to make, but always seems to impress. Not only does it work especially well as an accompaniment for BBQ and grilled food, which comes in handy this time of year, but it also works well with a variety of wines and beers.

Start with nice bunch of fresh green beans. Canned or frozen will work in a pinch, but won’t have anywhere near as much flavor or crunch. Clean the beans and throw on a pot of salted water.

Blanch the beans for two or three minutes and then plunge into an ice water bath. Your beans should now be a nice bright green.

Cut some bacon into pieces, using enough to compliment however many beans you are cooking, and toss into a medium hot skillet. Cook, stirring often, until the bacon is cooked. Once the bacon is cooked add some diced onion and cook until transluscent and just starting to get some color.

At this point add your beans and toss to get them well coated with the bacon grease. Cook until just tender-crisp. Add a knob of butter and douse liberally with red wine vinegar. Pepper to taste and serve.