Green Bean Bundles (or Asparagus)

My daughter brought these to our triple birthday party this week-end.  They were delicious!

• 3-3 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans
• 1 lb. bacon, cut in half
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.

Snap ends off beans then par-boil.  Wrap 7 green beans with bacon and place in prepared dish.  Repeat, using all the green beans and bacon.

Combine butter with brown sugar.  Pour over green bean bundles and sprinkle with garlic salt.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Serves 8-10.

Update (3/31/13):

We decided to put a little twist on these by using asparagus instead of green beans.  We also thought the green beans was a little sweet so we adjusted the recipe and wrapped the bacon over more of the asparagus.  These were really delicious!  Try whichever one floats your boat!

• 2 lbs. fresh asparagus, ends trimmed
• 12 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, opt.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Divide asparagus spears into 12 bundles.  Carefully wrap 1 piece of bacon around each bundle, starting about 1/2 inch from the bottom of the tips.  Secure the bacon-wrapped spears with a toothpick.  Lay bundles in a low-sided casserole dish.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, garlic salt, and pepper.  Bring the mixture to a boil.  Pour the hot sugar mixture over the asparagus bundles.  Transfer the dish to the oven and roast for 25 minutes, or until the spears have begun to wilt and the bacon looks fully cooked.  Remove the toothpicks before serving.

“Feeding on God’s Word keeps us strong and healthy in the Lord.”