Pole Beans & New Potatoes

Pole beans are kind of like flat green green bean.  I can't find them outside of Mississippi and haven't eaten them outside the Deep South.  I just use regular fresh green beans (not the skinny French ones or any canned or frozen either).  This is my mama's recipe and so, so good!

vegetables and sides

 1 & 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved (2 cups)
8 slices bacon, quartered (optional)
1 small onion chopped
5 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 & 1/2 cups cubed red potatoes
1 red pepper, sliced (optional)

1. Wash beans and trim ends, removing strings as you go. Cut into 1 & 1/2" size pieces or just break into halves. Set aside.
2. Fry bacon until crispy in a large cooking pot. Remove bacon and reserve 1/4 cup of the bacon fat. 
3. Sauté onions in the fat until tender.
4. Add water to onion and bring to a boil.  Add the bacon, beans, and seasonings. 
5. Return to a boil; then cover and lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes. 
6. Add potatoes and cook until both potatoes and beans are tender.

Servings: 6