Green Bean Casserole from scratch

Call me silly, but I still love the classic Green Bean Casserole . . . it is one of my favorite comfort foods.   It is one of those dishes that is delicious and goes with so many meal combinations, but for me it also brings back memories of my childhood sitting around the table with family.  Funny how just the aroma and taste of the food can take you back to certain times in the past.

Although the classic semi-homemade version is awesome and easy, this recipe caught my attention since just about anything prepared from scratch is much better.  

I'm looking forward to making this version with fresh green beans . . . I have always used the version with canned green beans.  That one thing has to make a huge difference in taste.

Ingredients

For the topping:
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Nonstick cooking spray

For beans and sauce:
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half



Directions

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Combine the onions, flour, panko and salt in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Coat a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and evenly spread the onions on the pan. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes. Toss the onions 2 to 3 times during cooking. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside until ready to use. Turn the oven down to 400 degrees F.

While the onions are cooking, prepare the beans. Bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil in an 8-quart saucepan. Add the beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give up some of their liquid, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and nutmeg and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 of the onions and all of the green beans. Top with the remaining onions. Place into the oven and bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

Source: The Food Network/Alton Brown

Photo source and another variation with photos

Easy Homemade Peach Cobbler

Peach Cobbler is one of my husband's favorite desserts, so I went on a search to find the best cobbler recipe I could find.  This is it, from one of my favorite food blogs, Willow Bird Baking.

Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking
Yield: 6 servings

This is the easiest cobbler known to mankind and also happens to be my favorite. It’s cakey and spongey in texture (not biscuity), which is why my family called it a “peach cobbler cake” when I was growing up.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
Dash of salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 large (or two regular) cans peaches in light syrup

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F and spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish (or 12-inch cast iron skillet) with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Melt the stick of butter and pour it unceremoniously into the prepared baking dish. Mix the milk into the dry ingredients, whisk until the lumps are gone (the batter will be very liquidy), and then pour this batter over top of the melted butter in the prepared dish.

Pour can(s) of peaches over top of the batter, syrup and all. Do NOT stir this — just let the peaches fall where they falls! Bake the cobbler for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and almost set. Serve hot with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

The post Easy Homemade Peach Cobbler (and Exercise Tips for the Exercise-Haters) appeared first on Willow Bird Baking.

Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Bars

Cheesecake recipes always grab my attention, but this recipe combines two favorites, cheesecake and sugar cookies.  Love the concept!  I have not made them yet, but once The Captain sees this recipe, it will be the next dessert on the list.

Makes 16 (2") Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 favorite sugar cookie recipe, or 1 (17.5 oz) pkg sugar cookie mix in a pouch by Betty Crocker
• 1 small box (4 serving size) french vanilla instant pudding
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar (packed)
• 1 stick melted butter = 1/2 cup
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs + plus 3 yolks
• 2 pkg (8oz) cream cheese @ room temperature
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 1/2 c white granulated sugar
• 2/3 c optional: toffee bits, (pulverized in a blender or food processor)

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Spray 9 X 13 baking pan with cooking spray

In medium bowl mix cookie mix, pudding mix, brown sugar and melted butter together.

Add 1 Tsp vanilla and 1 egg, blend with a spoon.

When dough begins to come together, use your hands to knead the dough then form into a ball.

Press dough into your baking dish, and slightly up the sides

In another large bowl, using your mixer, beat at room temperature . . .  cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and the remaining egg and 3 yolks, add 2 tsp vanilla 

Beat until smooth and creamy.

Spread this cream cheese mixture over top of the cookie dough in your pan.

BAKE 25-30 minutes until center is set.

While bars are baking . . . pulverize the toffee bits in blender
Sprinkle immediately over dish as removed from the oven and still hot.

Let cool . . . 30-45 minutes

Cover then place in refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnight.

Cut into 2-3 inch bars to serve.

Keep refrigerated.


Source: http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cookies/cheesecake-sugar-cookie-bars-by-freda.html

Crispy Potato Latkes

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• Latkes—fried, onion-laced shredded potato patties . . . they are a Hanukkah tradition for Layla Schlack.  She tells the story of her tradition along with lots of tips and techniques, including photos of the process . . . click on the link for "How to Make Latkes."

I love these type of potato patties, but have not found a recipe that I really like. Layla's recipe is the real deal and I will be trying it soon.  Seems like her trick of using the potato starch instead of flour or matza meal is the secret to crispy deliciousness.

If you are interested in making these latkes, you will want to read the article.

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• Crispy Latkes 
• by Layla Schlack from Fine Cooking 
  Issue 126

• To learn more, read:
  How to Make Latkes
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Serves 4 as a side dish

Yields 8 latkes

• 1 lb. russet potatoes, peeled
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 large egg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable oil for frying
• Sour cream for serving
• Applesauce for serving

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 200°F. Put a paper-towel-lined rimmed baking sheet on the rack.

Fill a large bowl halfway with cold water. Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the potatoes into the water, or grate onto a cutting board and then immediately put them in the water.

Line a colander with cheesecloth and set it in the sink. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes to the colander; reserve the bowl of water. Gather the cheesecloth into a bundle and squeeze firmly until the potatoes stop giving off liquid.

Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl and using your hands, mix in the onion, egg, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Carefully pour off the reserved potato soaking water to get to the white gluey starch on the bottom of the bowl. Transfer the starch to the potato mixture and mix it in with your hands.

Add enough oil to a heavy-duty 12-inch skillet, preferably cast iron, to measure 1/8 inch deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a potato strand dropped in it sizzles vigorously.

Scoop 1/4 cup of the potato mixture onto a slotted metal spatula and use the bottom of the measuring cup to press it until it’s about 1/4 inch thick, letting any excess liquid fall into a small bowl. Don’t worry if the latke is not perfectly round. Slide it into the oil. Make 1 or 2 more latkes for the first batch and fry, flipping once, until they’re golden-brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining potato mixture, stirring it between batches. Serve immediately or cool and freeze for up to 1 week and reheat in a single layer, uncovered, in a 300°F oven.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 180; Fat (g): 8; Fat Calories (kcal): 70; Saturated Fat (g): 1; Protein (g): 4; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 3.5; Carbohydrates (g): 23; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3.5; Sodium (mg): 300; Cholesterol (mg): 45; Fiber (g): 2;

PHOTO: SCOTT PHILLIPS