Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Fresh Green Beans, Ends Cut Off (I used frozen)
• 4 slices Bacon, Cut Into 1/4 Inch Pieces
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 whole Large Onion, Chopped
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
• 2-1/2 cups Whole Milk (used 2%)
• 1/2 cup Half-and-half
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Salt, More To Taste
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (borsari)
• 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 jar (4 Ounce) Sliced Pimentoes, Drained
• Extra Milk For Thinning If Necessary
• 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs (fried onions)

Preparation Instructions

Cut green beans in half if you like pieces to be a little smaller.
Blanch the green beans: drop them into lightly salted boiling water and allow green beans to cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain beans once they're cool and set aside. (With frozen, I just boiled until I thought they were done, then rinsed in cold water)
Add bacon pieces to a skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon for two minutes, then add diced onion and garlic and continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, or until bacon is done (but not crisp) and onions are golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a separate skillet or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour into the pan and whisk immediately to evenly mix it into the butter. Cook for a minute or two, then pour in milk and half and half. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, while sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne then add the grated cheddar. Stir while cheese melts. Turn off heat.
Add pimentos to pan, then add bacon/onion mixture. Stir to combine. Pour over green beans and stir gently to combine. Pour into a baking dish and top with panko crumbs.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and panko crumbs are golden.

If you use fried onions, cover it with tinfoil, mine started to burn when I checked at 20 min.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/green-bean-casserole/

The REAL Girls Trip Dip

I found the original recipe for Girls Trip Dip, and it has more of the actual quantities, so I thought I'd post it. I NEED this for when I shop and actually make it.

15 oz. can black eyed peas

11 oz can white shoe peg corn (shoe peg corn is hard to find, but worth it.)

2-3 chopped avocados (Kristin likes 1-2)

1/2 - 1 c. chopped, seeded tomato (that's about 2 of the on-the-vine small-ish tomatoes) (Kristin likes 2 huge tomatoes or 3-4 small tomatoes)

2/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro

2/3 c. chopped green onion

Dressing

1/4 c olive oil

1/4 c wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic (I use 1/8 cup regular olive oil and 1/8 cup garlic olive oil)

1t cumin

3/4 t salt

After chopping and mixing everything, and just a little while before serving pour on the dressing. Just add it according to how you like it. (Kristin uses about 1/2 to 3/4 of the dressing. I use it all)

Chris's Green Smoothie

Per Brie's recommendation, here are my smoothie ingredients.  I also do not measure, but I will give you approximate amounts.  I use a Vitamix blender.  I kind of wish I'd bought a Blendtec.

My smoothies recipes make 1 liter of green smoothie which I drink for one meal.

1.  I FILL my blender with Kale and chard OR Kale and spinach OR all three, BUT about 3/4 of the green is Kale.

2.  I pour in probably about a 3/4 - 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk that I buy at Trader Joe's in a half gallon box for $1.99.

3.  For a 1 litre smoothie, I make sure there is at least 3 cups of just this green mixture of greens and coconut milk.  Usually I have to add more green stuff after my initial blending to get it up to 3 cups.

4.  Next I add frozen fruit...about 1 cup (overflowing) or 1 large, peeled orange.  I also usually add some ice cubes and sometimes some water .  I usually end up with slightly more than 1 liter.  Here are my 3 different fruit combinations so far:

• Costco frozen organic combo of mango, pineapple, peaches
• 1 whole large orange (with the vanilla this taste a little like an orange julius)(thanks, Josh, for this recipe.)
• Costco frozen berry mix...blueberries, blackberries, raspberries

5.    I also add some vanilla.  I add a lot.  I've never measured, but I'd guess at least 2 tsp. 

6.  1 packet of Truvia which is a stevia based sweetener with erythritol.

7.  I have, on occasion, added some freshly ground flaxseed or some salba, but both thicken it, so you have to drink it all immediately, or it becomes a little too think and icky.  I don't usually add either anymore.

That's it.  They are VERY good.  It's important that you add enough liquid, because when it is too thick, it doesn't taste as good.  You will be shocked at how much green stuff you can get in one serving.  Good stuff.  

xoxo