Discovered this inside a 1974 church cookbook at a neighborhood estate sale. I made it for dinner last night and the kids actually fought over it.

Directions

1. Bring a large skillet or sauté pan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, just until crisp-tender and bright green. Drain well and set aside.

2. In the same skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until browned and crisp. Use a slotted spoon to stir it now and then so it cooks evenly.

3. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the butter, brown sugar, and cider vinegar, letting the mixture bubble for about 30 seconds until glossy and lightly caramelized.

4. Return the drained green beans to the skillet and toss well to coat them in the bacon glaze. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the beans are hot, lightly blistered, and covered with the caramelized bits. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

5. Transfer to a serving dish or bring the skillet straight to the table. Serve warm.

Variations & Tips

For frozen green beans: If fresh green beans are not on hand, use a 16-ounce bag of frozen whole green beans. Cook just until heated through before adding them to the glaze so they do not turn too soft.

For a sweeter church-supper style version: Add an extra teaspoon or two of brown sugar if your family likes that classic sweet-and-savory flavor. It pairs especially well with ham or baked chicken.

For picky eaters: Cut the green beans into shorter pieces before cooking so they are easier to serve and eat. You can also crumble the bacon extra fine so the flavor spreads through the dish without big pieces.

For extra color and texture: Toss in a few thinly sliced sweet onions with the bacon and cook until soft and golden. That little addition gives the dish even more old-fashioned skillet flavor.

Don’t overcook the beans: The best texture here is tender but still snappy. Since the beans cook again in the skillet with the glaze, slightly undercooking them at the start helps keep them bright and lively.