Paleo(?) Green Beans with Bacon

I'm not going to say that I eat a strict paleo diet because that would be a big fat lie. I don't even know if green beans are paleo, but the way I see it, if I can grow it in my garden then it must be pretty close. I try where I can, but it's hard when you don't like meat that much and you have two other people to cook for who aren't interested in it. It usually means extra cooking, work, and dishes to do afterwards. I love it when I have a dish that everyone in our house likes so I don't have to cook two different sides to keep smiles on faces. And let's face it, who wouldn't smile for bacon? I only smile for the crispy, meaty bits.

I tend to use small amounts of onion and spices in my cooking for our 4 year old. He's not a big fan yet, but we're getting there. So feel free to add as much or as little to suit your taste buds. And I know a lot of people use coconut oil, but I personally don't like the taste in savory dishes so opt for an extra virgin olive oil instead.

Did I mention this is my first time writing a recipe? I usually just sprinkle some of dis and a little of dat and go from there. Nothing's stopping you from doing the same. One pound of green beans you say? Is that a tad too much? That just happens to be how much I grabbed and put in a bag this morning. Use less if you're not big bean eaters. Add more bacon if you love it. I had 6 strips left over from another recipe, that's how I came to that number. It's a starting point.

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

• 1/2 walla walla sweet onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb. fresh green beans
• 6 cooked bacon strips, crumbled
• Olive oil (or use bacon fat from the bacon)
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Over medium heat, saute the garlic and onions in some olive oil until the onions become transparent.
2. Add the green beans and gently toss to get them cooking. 
3. Then throw in the bacon. 
4. The bacon will probably render out a little more fat as it warms up, giving the beans a nice smokey touch.
5. Season with sea salt and some pepper. Remember that bacon has salt in it already so be sure to taste before you add more!

Experiment with different herbs on this too. The next time I make this, I'm thinking of using some lemon pepper, fresh tarragon or thyme, or even toasted almond slivers to finish it off.