Green Bean Casserole - Sans Campbells!

Written by Juliana Weiss-Roessler

Green Bean Casserole was originally invented by the Campbell Soup Company as a promotional ploy. And the plan was so successful that today many consider the dish a staple for the holiday season. Of course, for others of us, it conjures up memories of soggy canned veggies and a generally tasteless dish... but it doesn’t have to be that way! Lose the canned soup, and make a more organic, healthy, and tasty version of this classic dish. What you need  30 oz. of fresh green beans 3 tbsp butter 3 tbsp flour 1 tbsp of kosher salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 small sweet onion, diced finely 1 clove garlic, minced 3 cups of milk 1 lb of bacon, cooked or (Turkey Bacon) 2 cups of French fried onions 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup of shredded Colby cheese Method: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook butter, onion and garlic in a sauce pan over medium heat for a minute or two to let the onion soften. Add flour and cook for another minute. Then whisk in the milk slowly, and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Now it’s time to add the salt and pepper. Voila - a nice, well-seasoned white sauce. In a large bowl, toss together the Green Beans, white sauce, 1 cup of the French fried onions, bacon and cheese. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, cover it with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes. Take it out of the oven, and remove the foil. Top it with the rest of the French fried onions, and put it back in the oven for ten more minutes uncovered.

French Fried Onions
Another dish that you can purchase in a can… or make yourself! Here’s the recipe to make them fresh.
Ingredients:
2 or 3 big sweet onions
Milk
Salt to taste (1 – 2 teaspoons is a good place to start)
Pepper to taste
1 ½ cup gluten-free flour (such as tapioca, rice, or soy flour)
Oil for frying

Methods:
Slice the onions into rings, separate them, and soak them in milk for a few minutes.
Place oil about an inch deep in a frying pan, and heat it.
Coat the onions in the flour, and then place them in the pan with the heated oil. Once the onions float, turn them over and cook until they are a nice golden brown. When you remove them from the oil, place them on a paper towel. Then, add them to your green bean casserole!

 

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