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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2013 01:46PM by lucky7s.

I don't make it as a casserole, but I do serve green beans every Thanksgiving.

I prep the fresh beans as I usually would, then sautee them in a little bit of olive oil and about a tblsp.(either fresh minced or jarred) ginger. I then add about 1/2 cup of orange juice and simmer until the green beans are cooked and there's a ginger/OJ glaze on them. Just before serving I add a little butter for that rich mouth feel

You could maybe do this in casserole form? A little panko on top?

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2013 01:45PM by lucky7s.

OOOOHHH, veggie casserole sounds yummy....IMHO a much better choice than same old-same old green bean casserole. Yum!

Food Network, Alton Brown has a recipe. It may be Best Ever Green Bean Casserole or something to that effect. I've been using it for years. It is easy peasy and really good. I have a friend who really doesn't like mushrooms and will eat this version. The chunks of mushrooms are large enough for her to pick out, lol!

I don't know how it started, but our green bean dish for Thanksgiving has always been: Fresh or frozen green beans steamed until tender, add a little butter and lightly coat with sour cream. I suppose you could use light sour cream, but this side is one of my favorites on Thanksgiving.

They were sampling green bean casserole at Costco today...I have not eaten it for years and after sampling it today I remember why. More power to you for looking for a tastier and healthier version.
I have a great green recipe but not at all like green bean casserole. It involves frying up a lot of garlic and ginger, the more the merrier, then throwing the beans into the frying pan and pan frying it all with a handful of peanuts ( I use only the amt of oil necessary so it won't stick). Splash it with soy sauce and keep the saute going until the beans are done. Then serve and eat.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2012 06:45AM by sandyf.

Give me good old fashioned southern style green beans......smothered in bacon and onions. Yes, McDonald's french fries are likely healthier than all the bacon fat, but who cares? It's a holiday.

I wouldn't think McDonald's fries are healthier. Besides, all that bacon fat will give you a glossy coat

Yes, it will give you a glossy coat and it will also make your teeth shiny.

Bacon fat is also a very effective cure for depression. I mean, how can you possibly be sad while eating bacon?

zline, you are correct. I cannot remember being depressed when eating bacon. Perhaps you're on to something here. Someone should fund a major bacon study, with particular attention to glossy coats, shiny teeth, and cheerful outlooks. Perhaps bacon has been unjustly maligned (not by me, I'm for it).

Green beans are good covered with diced bacon, and they are also terrific with some tasty bacon grease. My mom taught me to cook fresh black eyed peas and green beans right out of the garden by starting out with a quarter inch or so of bacon grease in the pan. Then add the peas or beans and fry them up in the grease for a little bit, stirring constantly and not letting them scorch. Then add water and seasonings and cook them down nice and soft. The women in my family have cooked this way for four generations that I know about. My great grandmother lived to be 89. My grandmother lived to be 87. My mom lived to be 72 but bacon didn't get her. They were all cheerful women who loved bacon. Even though giving up an excessive amount of bacon may buy us a little more time, we all gotta go.

Disclaimer: I am not recommending a high fat diet. I understand the importance of restraint and food choices. I also have faith in moderation which I believe includes a little bacon and everything else. And overall, I recommend a cheerful outlook. We should have a little fun and good food every day.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> .... by starting out with a quarter inch or so of bacon
> grease in the pan.

The start of any good recipe.

vegetable casserole
 
1 can French-style green beans, drained
1 can kernel or shoe peg corn, drained
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cream of celery soup
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated (or more)

Topping:

1 stack Ritz crackers, crushed
1 stick butter or margarine, melted

Combine all ingredients except topping and put in a greased casserole dish. Crush crackers and spreak over casserole. Drizzle with the melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Serves 8.

Now I remember why I moved from the center of the country to the coast. It must have been the food. lol
Not the weather, not the beaches, not disneyland, not the availability of large airports that took me places in one jump, not the hollywood glitz, but the lack of recipes with ritz crackers cans of gloppy soup and shoe peg corn whatever that is.
I have gladly put all that behind me. We really are a very big country with lots of differences. Now all you west coast people that love these recipes...more power to you and good luck finding shoe peg corn!

I did bacon-wrapped green bean bundles for Thanksgiving. They were a HUGE hit. Toss long green beans in a little butter/garlic powder/brown sugar/s&p, grab a handful of beans and wrap in a half-slice of bacon. Bake until the green beans are tender, and then broil until the bacon gets crisp. My new favorite way to eat green beans.

I love bacon, so I had to make sure my menu was not too bacon-centric, lol. We ended up having two bacon dishes and about 8 non-bacon dishes, I'd say that's fair. I considered doing a bacon-wrapped turkey, but like I said, there was already a lot of bacon.

Speaking of bacon, brussels sprouts are particularly tasty when cooked with bacon.

(I do actually eat very healthily normally. I just love me some bacon when the occasion calls for it!)

I've never been a huge fan of brussels sprouts, until last night. They actually came shaved into slivers and I added pancetta and caramelized shallots with lots of S & P. Bacon really does make anything better