I have had some serious food debates in my day. Tacos, brownies, pie, mashed potatoes (real or potato flakes?); all have been good natured and fun of course. However, there is nothing I have debated more than green bean casserole. You read me right. There are the lovers and the haters. The triers and the “not on your life will I eat that”. Canned beans vs. fresh beans. Canned cream of mushroom soup vs. homemade milk the cow, forage the mushrooms cream of mushroom soup. French’s fried onions vs. frying your own onions. See!! There is a lot to talk about when it comes to green bean casserole! I bet you had no idea how controversial this subject could be. Or maybe you do? I have never lost any friends over the topic, but I sure as heck have thought to myself, “I thought I knew you”. People will surprise you.
If you celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving Day, chances are green bean casserole has been offered to you at some point in your life. If you have never heard of any such casserole, let me quickly get you up to speed on the subject. The original name for the dish was Green Bean Bake. The recipe was developed, in 1955, by a woman named Dorcas Reilly. She worked for the Campbells Soup test kitchen and was given the task of creating a recipe that would be quick and easy and use ingredients that most American households had on hand. The recipe was meant to be something that was made regularly, not only at Thanksgiving. In the 1960’s Campbell’s put the recipe for Green Bean Bake on their label and since then it has become a holiday mainstay. Fifty percent of all mushroom soup sales are done between the months of November and January in a typical year! And the original recipe card for Green Bean Bake is in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio. I’m sure this is more than you ever dreamed of knowing about green beans and mushroom soup, but I for one find it fascinating. I honestly nerd out on this sort of thing.
So here is where my family history intersects with the OG casserole. This dish was not a weekly side dish in our home. We only ever had it at the holidays. So as the story goes my sister and I grew up and started making our own holiday traditions, one of which included my sister always making the green bean casserole. Let me tell you the first time I ate my sister’s version (Which is actually my aunt Marla’s recipe, remember the scalloped potatoes?) I was rendered speechless. I was quite literally catatonic. What in the world? How could this be so creamy and cheesy and delicious?
Jump ahead a few years. I started this blog and I decided to see if my sister would agree to let me share the recipe for “The Green Bean Casserole with the secret ingredient”. I called her and asked if she would be so kind as to share the coveted recipe for this classic dish with me. She said yes of course, I will email it to you right now! This was years ago, mind you, when we still had flip phones and email was new and exciting. When I received her email with the ingredients, I emailed her right back and said, "Seriously, this is your famous green bean casserole?!!". Yes, she replied. I countered with, are you holding something back from me?
No. That's all there is to it.
Hmmmmm are you sure you're not holding something back on me?
NO! Yes! Sheesh. Why would I do that?
Cause you're sassy!
This was all through email, and it took about 4 days. I am still not sure why we didn’t pick up the phone. Email was fun.
So all these years later my sweet Seestor is still making this scrumptious dish for Thanksgiving dinner. I love it. I always pray there will be enough leftovers for me to have for lunch the next day! I realize it is not everyone’s cup of tea. I will forgive you, because that leaves more for me! Now if you tell me you don’t like pie, I might have to banish you. Kidding. Not kidding.
So, what is your favorite side dish? Inquiring minds need to know.
I have been working on a few new recipes, but mostly I have been working every extra minute updating old content. Retesting recipes to make sure they still work. Taking new photos, and basically cleaning up the joint! Stay tuned. More good stuff to come.
Fall is upon us! We went to a football game last night, got rained on and froze our butts off. It’s was amazing! I love fall.
Have a great week! XO Sheila
Here's something for you to try -- I substitute cream of onion soup for the cream of mushroom because I don't like cream of mushroom soup. Try it! I think you'll love it!