Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole in one of my niece Jacki's favorite side dishes. This recipe is a little more time consuming than the Campbell soup one, but still very easy to make. I think it's better this way, but that's just my opinion.  

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

(serves 8)

Ingredients:

*2 pounds fresh green beans, ends snapped off

*4-6 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inches pieces (optional)

*1/2 large white onion, chopped

*2 garlic cloves, minced 

*4 tablespoons butter

*4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

*2 3/4  cups whole milk

*1/4 cup whole milk

*1 1/4 teaspoons salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper 

*1 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated 

*dash of nutmeg 

*1 cup Panko bread crumbs or 1 cup bread crumbs 1 (2.8 ounce) can french fried onions

Directions:

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Cut green beans into desired pieces.

~Drop green beans into light salted boiling water and cook for 4 minutes.

~Drop green beans into a bowl of ice water (once the green beans have cooled, drain the water from them).

~Cook bacon over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.

~Add onion cook another 3-5 minutes or until bacon is done, stirring often).

~Add garlic and cook for another 1 (don't let garlic burn), stirring often.

~Remove from heat and set aside.

~In another skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

~Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minutes, whisking the entire time.

~Pour in milk and heavy cream, whisk until sauce thickens.

~Add in cheese, salt & pepper, stir until cheese melts (if it becomes to thick add a little more milk or chicken stock).

~Stir in nutmeg.

~Remove from heat.

~Stir in bacon mixture.

~Stir in green beans.

~Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.

~Sprinkle panko or bread crumbs or french fried onions over the top.

~Bake for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubble and topping is a golden brown.