Crowd Pleasing Green Bean Casserole

I have made green bean casserole so many ways.  It's amazing to make from scratch, but for Thanksgiving 2014, I was cooking 3 different casseroles (green bean, broccoli rice, and squash) for a big crowd, so I needed  to keep is simple. 

What is more simple than 

Campbell's Classic Green Bean Casserole? 

Honestly, it's delicious. 

I know some people do not care for it, but I happen to love it. 

My biggest challenge was determining how much of it I needed to make. 

I decided this time, I'd make notes of how I made it and how it tasted so that I know next Thanksgiving if this recipe was a "keeper"

So, here is my version of green bean casserole for a crowd

CROWD PLEASING GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Ingredients (classic recipe)

• 4 cans (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 cans (14.5 ounces) cut green beans ( I prefer these over french green beans)
• 4 1/3 cups french fried onions

Extra Twist- Sauteed Mushrooms 

(if you want to "jazz" it up)

• 1 pkg fresh button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 1/4 cup half n half 

Directions

• Preheat oven 350 degrees
• Set aside 1 1/3 cups french fried onions
• Whisk together soup, milk, soy sauce, and pepper to make the sauce
• Toss green beans with sauce in a baking dish (I used a large foil roasting dish as I was taking this to another location)
• Add the sauteed mushrooms if you went for the "extra twist"
• Bake casserole for 40-45 minutes, until the mixture begins to bubble around the edges
• Stir the mixture and sprinkle with reserved french fried onions
• Bake another 5-10 minutes until onions begin to brown

I prepared this the day before serving. I place saran wrap first then wrapped with heavy duty foil.  I used a black sharpie to write the cooking temp and instructions on the outside. 

White Rock Local Market

We have an awesome local farmers market in my neighborhood

White Rock Local Market @ Lakeside

1st and 3rd Saturdays

Lakeside Baptist Church

9150 Garland Rd

Dallas 75218

White Rock Local Market @ Green Spot

2nd and 4th Saturdays
Green Spot

702 N. Buckner Blvd

Dallas 75218

They are only open

from

8am - 1pm

I got there about 10ish and several farmers were already sold out

I recommend getting there EARLY

I was focused on fresh produce for the grill



Zucchini and Squash

I used the squash last night (see below)

I plan on grilling the zucchini tonight

Check out the lovely yellowy goldish ones



"Chocolate" Cherry Tomatoes



No, silly, these do not task like chocolate

They taste just like cherry tomatoes

Baby Portabellas & Button Mushrooms

I love love love mushrooms

I am going to stuff these and grill them 



Montasio Rosemary and Fresh Mozzarella Cheeses



 We have a fabulous local cheese company (actually several)

but this one is amazing

It's called the Mozzarella Company

Most of the local stores sell their cheeses

They have classes on how to make cheese, how to pair it with wine,

and

how to pair it with beer

I have not tried the Montasio Rosemary cheese

It is a hard cheese so I cannot wait to try it out on my next pasta dish

I plan on using the mozzarella cheese

on my next grilled pizza

Jamie Deen's Stuffed Squash Boats

This was last night's supper

Check out tomorrow's post for the recipe

This is probably the best recipe I've tried in a long time

(& I've tried alot) 

These have spicy italian sausage, red onions,

the "chocolate" cherry tomatoes from above, 

&

are topped off with panko/parmesan bread crumbs