Bacon Green Bean Bundles with Brown Sugar Glaze

This is a great fancy-dinner sidedish that looks beautiful and tastes delicious! Only makes 8, so I usually double it.

-8 slices bacon
-1 lb. fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
-4 Tbls. butter
-1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
-3 Tbls. packed brown sugar
-fresh ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400.  Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with heavy foil.  Lay bacon strips on pan without overlapping.  Bake for 10 minutes or until bacon is just starting to brown on the edges while remaining underdone and pliable.  Drain bacon on a plate lined with paper towels.  While bacon cooks, bring a large pot of water to boil.  Blanch green beans by plunging them into the boiling water for 3 minutes.  Drain and immediately transfer beans to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.  In a small pot, melt the butter.  Mix in salt, garlic powder, and brown sugar until well blended.  To assemble bundles, lay 8-10 beans in a pile (depending on the thickness of your beans).  Wrap a piece of bacon around the beans, starting 1/4 way down and working down to 3/4 way down.  Place the bundle on the baking sheet with the bacon seam side down.  Repeat with all the beans.  Using a spoon, evenly drizzle the butter sugar mixture over each bundle.  Season with a small amount of the pepper.  Roast at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and cooked through.  Allow to rest on the baking pan for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.