Steam Sauteed Green Beans

These green beans came from CookSmart: Perfect Recipes for Every Day. Pam Anderson is one of my favorite cookbook authors.

1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
2 slices of bacon, cut in 1" pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 an onion, minced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/3 cup water
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
pepper to taste salt too if you need it but the bacon adds lots of flavor so taste first

Cook the bacon in a 10" skillet (so there will be room for the beans to spread out) and remove when done. Leave the bacon grease in the pan.
Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes, then add the green beans, minced garlic, tsp thyme and 1/3 cup water.
Cover and once the steam starts escaping set the timer for 5 minutes. This cooks the beans and then you can finish off by removing the lid and cooking another minute or two until done to your liking. The water steams away and the beans saute in the bacon grease.
Stir in bacon, 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar and pepper to taste, then serve.