Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon

Name: Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 to 8
Ingredients: 1/2 cup dark brown sugar; 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup; 1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper; 1 pound thick cut bacon; 2 pounds fresh green beans (ends trimmed and blanched); 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 2 to 3 large shallots (finely diced); 1 8 oz. package cremini mushrooms, chopped; 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract; 1 tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

December 17, 2015 by hipfoodiemom 29 Comments

Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon!! Take your side dish game up a few notches! And try adding a splash of vanilla extract into your savory dishes this holiday season! It’s amazing!

Disclosure: I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post. All opinions are my own.

I can’t believe Christmas is next week! I don’t know why but this holiday season has been a little more calm for me. And I actually got holiday cards made (I just have to mail them!) and I’m finished with my holiday shopping. How did that happen??!!!

I think I work well with having deadlines .. or giving myself deadlines. . while I am in the midst of it all, I hate it. But once I’m done and can breathe, it’s quite exhilarating!

After seeing this and shopping around Nordstrom.com for a while, I ordered pajamas for my entire family .. my brother and his family, my sister and her family, my parents, me, Paul and the girls. . we’re all going to be sporting new pj’s this holiday season. You can bet I’m going to Instagram this!!

When we were little, my dad would wake up early (he’s an early bird like me) and make breakfast for us. We would wake up to the smell of bacon and someone screaming (or crying) in Korean. My dad would be blasting a Korean drama from the TV. Maybe this was his way of waking us up?

Anyway, now whenever I smell bacon, I am immediately transported back to my childhood days, sitting around the table with my family, happy and going to town on some bacon.

This year, on Christmas Eve, I’m going to surprise my family with candied bacon. I don’t know what took me so dang long to make this myself. It’s so easy and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. And, you guessed it, your kitchen will smell amazing.

Candied bacon is a revelation! SO good. . and just like candy, you will want to eat a LOT. It’s so yummy! And it tastes exactly how you would imagine it to taste. Sweet, sticky, crispy, slightly salty, chewy and delicious! The neighborhood kids or dogs might come knocking on your door to get some, so just a warning.

This year, we’re having prime rib and savory cheddar cheese and chive popovers for our holiday dinner and I’m serving this with this fabulous side dish: Balsamic Green Beans with Candied Bacon.

Have you guys ever thought to use a splash of vanilla to enhance the taste of savory dishes? You guys have to try this!! It’s amazing! My green beans never tasted so good! And I added Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla Bean Paste to my candied bacon too! OH MY, so good!!!! Took the flavor profile up like 5,000 notches!

Today, I’ve partnered with Nielsen-Massey, the maker of pure vanilla extracts and flavorings including organic vanilla, Madagascar, Mexican Bourbon, Indonesian and Tahitian!

For 108 years, Nielsen-Massey has been the trusted name for adding flavor to holiday baked goods, but did you know that a splash of vanilla can enhance the taste of savory dishes as well? From adding a zing to sweet potatoes to serving as that special something in risotto, Nielsen-Massey provides recipe inspiration for every holiday dish!

Click here for more recipe inspiration! Even if you don’t try my green bean recipe, try something on your own! Add that splash of vanilla and let me know what you think!!

Wishing everyone the best holiday ever and one filled with love and lots of yummy food! Happy Holidays!!

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