Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

A little advice, anytime you can wrap anything in bacon,  do it.  What I love about this recipe (besides that it is a vegetable WRAPPED IN BACON) is the fact that it can still be considered healthy because it's only half of a piece of bacon.  I actually got this recipe from one of my favorite food blogs, SkinnyTaste. Everyone can eat one piece of bacon…even if you're watching your shape.  If you wanted to be even better, just use turkey bacon.  I love fresh green beans & this was a nice way to spice up a typical side dish. Not to mention, these little bundles were super easy to make. J might have eaten 2 or 3 bundles. Whoops.

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Serves: 6
Cook Time according to Rachel: 25 mins
How difficult was this for Rachel? Not bad at ALL!

Ingredients:
1 Bag Fresh Green Beans
3 Slices Center Cut Bacon, Cut in Half
1/8 Tsp Garlic Powder
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Drop beans in & let cook for 1 minute.

While beans cook, fill large bowl with ice water. 

After beans have cooked for 1 minute, use tongs to take beans out of boiling water & drop them into the ice water for 3 mins. (Yes, we are blanching the beans)

Remove beans from water.

Divide the beans into 6 even bundles. Wrap with bacon & place seam side down evenly on a greased baking sheet.

Drizzle lightly with olive oil. 

Season with garlic powder, salt & pepper

Bake for about 14-16 minutes until bacon is cooked.

{Recipe} Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli

 After taking a long look at the blog, I noticed how I was really lacking in the "Beef" category. However, I was also feeling quite lazy.  I found this recipe cleverly titled "Fake-out Take-out Beef & Broccoli" on Table for Two & it looked DELICIOUS & just like one of my favorite Chinese dishes.  Despite it already being summer out here & quite warm during the day, I was still in the mood for a heartier meal that would take minimal effort. This dish far surpassed everything I needed it to be! It was easy, delicious & tasted just like the real thing. It also helped that I had all the ingredients on tap except the beef.  I will definitely make this again!

ABOUT:

Serves: 4

Cook time according to Table for Two: 6 hours 30 mins

Cook time according to Rachel: 5 hours 30 mins

How difficult was this for Rachel? Very easy!

INGREDIENTS
1 lb boneless, beef chuck roast
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp cornstarch
1.5-2 cups broccoli, raw
Serve with rice (I used brown)
               
DIRECTIONS:

Slice roast into thin slices while trimming the fat

Whisk together in the slow cooker: beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil & garlic.

Place slices of beef into the pot & toss to coat. 

Cook meat on low for 5 hours; stirring occasionally.

After 5 hours,  in a small bowl, whisk together corn starch & 4 tbsp of sauce from the slow cooker to create a slurry...aka a way to thicken up the sauce. Add mix back into the slow cooker & mix thoroughly.

Add in broccoli & stir well. Cook for an additional 30 mins - 1 hour until broccoli is tender 

At this point, I cooked my rice.

Serve right away!