Our girls are huge lovers of green beans, so they are a must-have on the menu. (We try to accommodate everyone in some way or another.) Of course, the smokiness of the pig doesn’t hurt, either

　　

Ingredients

serves 6 to 8

　　2 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed

　　Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　1/2 pound bacon slices, roughly chopped

　　1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

　　3 cloves garlic, minced

　　1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes

　　1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

　　Juice of 1/2 lemon

　　

Step 1

Toss the green beans into a large pot of boiling salted water and cook until bright green in color and tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain the beans, and shock them in a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain the beans again, and pat dry.

　　

Step 2

Cook the bacon in a large, heavy sauté pan until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Spoon off the excess grease, leaving 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the onion to the pan, and sauté until soft and very tender, about 4 or 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the garlic and red-pepper flakes, and sauté until just fragrant, about 1 more minute. Add the reserved green beans and the pecans, and cook until heated through, about 5 or 6 minutes more. Return the bacon to the pan, pour in the lemon juice, and toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove to a serving bowl.

　　Reprinted with permission from The Neelys' Celebration Cookbook by Pat and Gina Nelly. Copyright © 2011 by Pat and Gina Nelly with Anna Volkwein. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Pat and Gina Neely are restaurateurs, best-selling authors, popular speakers, and hosts of the Food Network hit series Down Home with the Neelys. They recently opened their first New York City restaurant, Neely's Barbecue Parlor. They live with their daughters in Memphis, where they enjoy cooking at home with family and friends.Ann Volkwein is a best-selling food and lifestyle author based in New York City and Austin, Texas. Her previous books include: The Arthur Avenue Cookbook, Chinatown New York, Mixt Greens (with Andrew Swallow), and, with Guy Fieri: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; More Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives; and Guy Fieri Food.