Green Beans with Mushrooms and Crisp Onion Crumbs

2 T unsalted butter, divided
3/4 cup panko
2 T dehydrated minced onion
3/4 t salt, divided
2 sprays cooking spray
1 1/2 lb uncooked green fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
1 lb button mushrooms, thinly sliced

In a large, deep, non-stick skillet, over medium-low heat melt 1 T butter; add panko, minced onion and 1/4 t salt.  Increase heat to medium - stir often until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.  Remove from skillet and set aside - wipe skillet clean. 

Coat skillet with cooking spray; place over high heat.  Add beans and mushrooms.  Saute until lightly golden and tender, about 6 minutes.  Add remaining T of butter and salt and stir until melted.  Place in serving dish and coat with crumble topping.     


For more tender beans, blanch first.


The original recipe looked as though it was intended to be a make-ahead recipe.  There was a line that stated to put "beans and remaining butter and salt in a skillet until mixture is heated through".  After much puzzling I determined that it was intended to be made ahead of time up to the point before adding the remaining butter and salt.    Also 6 minutes doesn't seem to be enough time to cook beans.  I did blanch and shock mine, and after the cooking they were just al dente, so I think without that step they would have been too crisp. 

That said, it was pretty darn tasty.  We added an extra 1/2 lb of beans because the recipe says it serves 8, and we had 12 for Thanksgiving. 

Sweet Potato and Onion Salad

3 sprays cooking spray
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 large red onion, cut into large chunks
1/4 t chili powder
1/4 t salt
1/8 t fresh cracked back pepper
1 T white vinegar
1 oz frozen apple juice concentrate (undiluted) - approx 2 T



Coat non-stick baking sheet with cooking spray.  Place potatoes and onions on sheet and coat with more cooking spray; toss to mix and coat.  Roast 400 degrees for 45-55 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly; spoon into a serving bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together remaining ingredients.  Toss with potatoes to coat.  


I made this while visiting my parents in Connecticut for Thanksgiving, although not for the big dinner.  We decided to make this last-minute like, and had everything on hand except apple juice concentrate.  We did have apple cider, so we figured concentrate is a 3 to 1 ratio, so reduced about at 1/4 cup of cider down to the proper amount.  Some of the onions flaked off on their own and were pretty charred.  Some of them were edible but others were too black.  The chunks of onion that the layers stayed together fared best.   Alternatively, I suppose they could be flaked into separate layers, and tossed in about half-way through the cooking time.

Cabbage Roll Stew

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 head cabbage, chopped into large pieces
1/2 cup red wine
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 T brown sugar
1 T white vinegar
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t whole caraway seeds
1 t garlic powder
1 T worcestershire sauce
1 T Italian seasoning

1 cup uncooked rice.
 
In large stockpot, brown meat and drain fat.  Add onion and cook 3 minutes until softened.  Add cabbage and wine - cook covered on med hi heat 5 minutes until cabbage wilts.  Add remaining ingredients except for rice.  Bring to boil.  Cover and reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes.  Meanwhile prepare rice according to package directions.  Combine with cabbage mixture.


This was originally a recipe I found that was titled "Unstuffed Cabbage Roll."  It appealed to me not only because I wouldn't have to go through the tedium of trying to make little packages of cabbage, but also because I find the rolls themselves a little difficult to eat.  This was a recipe that took all the flavors but a simple presentation.  I tweaked it to my liking, and finally decided it was no longer a "dish" but a "stew" once I had had my way with it.  Don't be afraid to make small tweaks, even to well known chef recipes.  Food should be how you like it, not how someone else says it should be.  If those two views coincide, sure, but don't be pinned down.