Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Yield: 6 to 10 servings

1 pound fresh green beans
1 pound pork or turkey bacon (turkey bacon shown) 
¾ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup unsalted butter (one stick)
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sliced almonds, unsalted
20 toothpicks

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Trim ends off of green beans.
3. Place 20 toothpicks in a small bowl, cover with water and set aside.
4. Fill a large bowl two thirds full of water and ice cubes. Set aside.
5. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
6. Drop green beans into boiling water to blanch, cooking 3 minutes.
7. Remove green beans with slotted spoon and put into bowl with ice water. When completely cooled, remove and place on kitchen or paper towels to dry.
8. Separate green beans in bundles of 4 to 5 beans each.
9. Wrap each bundle with one slice of pork bacon or half slice of turkey bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place in a shallow baking dish with sides.
10. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, dark brown sugar, and salt until sugar melts. Stir in garlic and turn off heat.
11. Place sliced almonds in a blender and blend on high until almonds turn into medium-fine crumbs.
12. Pour sugar, butter, and garlic sauce on top of the bacon-wrapped green beans until all the sauce is in the baking dish.
13. Top each bundle with a healthy sprinkle of almond crumbs.
14. Put in oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until bacon is cooked. Remove from oven and serve warm.