Pralines
These bundled green beans may possibly steal the show if you are ever asked to bring a vegetable side dish. By using crumbled pralines, blanched beans, and "par cooked" bacon, final cooking time is reduced. This way the dish can be held unfinished and placed in the oven just prior to service.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Separate and lay bacon strips flat on a baking sheet. Cook until half way done, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and place strips on paper towels to drain and cool. When cool enough to handle, cut strips in half.
Blanch green beans in salted boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain beans and shock them in a bowl of ice water or place under cold running water until cooled.
Divide the green beans into as many separate bundles (4-8 beans) as there are halved bacon strips. Wrap the bean bundles with the bacon. Secure with a toothpick if necessary. Place the bundles in a shallow baking dish.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, pralines, butter, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper. Stir until the praline pieces are fully dissolved. Pour the sauce over the bundles in the baking dish, and cover with foil. The dish can either be cooked at this time or held in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place covered dish in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bacon is fully cooked.
**For a much quicker version of this recipe, the green beans are "unbundled". Instead of wrapping with bacon, chop or shred the bacon and mix all of the ingredients together. While the presentation may not be as spectacular, the taste will be just as good.
