Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

 I recently was made aware of a very sad story about a man that lives in the town we have adopted.  He was incarcerated for 18 years for a crime he did not commit.  A local group proved his innocence using DNA.  As if losing 18 years of your life is not bad enough, we live in a state that does not compensate people for false imprisonment. This poor guy has nothing.  He gets 700.00 per month from social services, half of which pays for the room he rents. So, I am making him Christmas Eve dinner.  It is a drop in the bucket but at least he will have something for Christmas.  This morning I prepared a green bean casserole for him.  Tomorrow I will roast him a large chicken and make mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole and rolls.  He is getting a cookie platter, a decorated tree and some presents too.

 I never made the traditional green bean casserole for my family but a lot of people associate it with holiday meals so I've begun to make it when I am giving meals away.

 It is so easy to make from scratch and so much better than making it using canned soup.

 Here is the recipe:

• 2  packages frozen French cut green beans
• 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, quartered
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (2.8 ounce) can canned French fried onions
  
  
  Saute the onions and the mushrooms in the butter. 

Add the flour and stir for a minute.  Add the salt and pepper, lemon zest and parsley.

Next add the milk.  Cook a bit until it starts to thicken.

 Stir in the sour cream.

 Add the sauce to the beans which you have cooked following the package directions.

 Stir in some of the cheddar and some of the fried onions.

Place it in a casserole and top with the remaining cheddar and fried onions.  I am refrigerating this and cooking it tomorrow so I will add the toppings just before it goes in the oven.  Bake it at 350 degrees until the cheese melts and the edges are bubbling.  About 25 minutes.