Sauteed Green Beans

Serves 4

• 3 strips bacon, chopped (2 tablespoons bacon grease, retained)
• 1 pound fresh green beans
• ½ cup red bell pepper, small diced
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper as needed

Preheat a skillet over moderate heat. Cook the bacon until crisp, remove from the pan and set aside. Once cooled, chop the bacon into smaller pieces. Retain 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet and return to moderate heat.
Trim your green beans and add them to the skillet along with the red bell pepper.
Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper, tossing them in bacon grease to coat. Cover with a lid to steam and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir and repeat for another 2 minutes. Garnish with the bacon bits and remove from heat. Serve immediately.