Classic Green Bean Casserole

I don't know what it is about this stuff, but I am the first one to say I love it, and I expect it at holiday meals. Gooey, creamy southern béchamel (that's Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup for those of y'all with a more sophisticated palate) mixed in with one of our favorite southern veggies - green beans - and accented by crunchy fried onions. Oh yeah. Comfort food for sure and likely to invoke all kinds of memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas past. Maybe that's why we love it so much.

Classic Green Bean Casserole
Posted at http://www.deepsouthdish.com/

1 can of Campbell's condensed cream
  of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Couple turns of the pepper grinder
4 cups of cooked green beans*
1-1/3 cups (more or less) of French's Original
  French Fried Onions, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish with butter or non-stick spray; set aside.

Combine the soup, milk, soy sauce, and pepper until well blended.  Add the green beans and 1/2 of the onions; turn out into the casserole dish. Use as many onions as you like - more or less than the recommended 1-1/3 cup - depending on how much you like them!

Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until bubbly.  Sprinkle remaining onion on top and return to the oven for about 5 minutes longer.

Serves about 6 - Double for the holidays!

*Use 1 large bag (16 to 20 ounces) of frozen green beans or 2 smaller packages, precooked; 1-1/2 pounds of fresh green beans, precooked; or substitute 2 cans of green beans, drained, uncooked.

Variations:

For Broccoli Casserole, substitute 4 cups cooked broccoli flowerets for the green beans.

For cheese lovers, stir in 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese with soup. Omit the soy sauce. Sprinkle with an additional 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese when adding the remaining onions.

To add a festive touch, stir in 1/4 cup chopped red pepper with the soup.

To add crunch, add 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds to the onion topping.

For bacon lovers, add 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, to the bean mixture.