Country-Style Green Beans With Bacon, Onions And Balsamic Vinegar

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until done. Remove the bacon from the pan and let drain on paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of the bacon with black pepper.

Reduce the heat under the skillet to low. Add the first measure of butter to the bacon grease in the skillet and stir until it melts. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until soft and slightly caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.

Place the drained beans in the bottom of a crock pot. Season as desired with salt and pepper. Crumble the bacon and add half of it to the crock pot.

Place half of the cooked onions on top of the beans. Sprinkle with half to the brown sugar. Drizzle some of the bacon/butter mixture from the skillet over the top.

Evenly spread the undrained beans over the top. Top with remaining bacon, onions, and brown sugar. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over all and then gently stir until just barely combined.

Dot the top of the beans with the cut up butter.

Cover the crock pot and cook on high heat for 1-2 hours or until heated through.

If you don't want to cook this in the crock pot you can cook it in a baking dish in the oven or in a dutch oven on the stove.