Green Bean Bundles

Ingredients
6-8 dried prunes
3 cups hot tea
1½ lb. fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
¹⁄_³ cup blanched and peeled almonds
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
6-8 slices bacon
1T olive oil

Directions
Soak prunes in the hot tea, covered, for at least one hour, and then drain. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and place a bowl of ice water on the side. Boil the beans until tender, 10 to 12 minutes, then chill in the ice water. Strain and separate into bundles of approximately 8 beans. In a food processor, combine the almonds with the pepper until crumbly. Divide and press the almond mixture onto one side of each slice of bacon. Place a prune in the center of each green-bean bundle and secure it by wrapping the bacon around it (with the almonds facing inwards). Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Cook the bundles on all sides to crisp the bacon. Serves 6-8.