Green Bean Gratin

Most of us have tried the traditional Green Bean Casserole. You know the one with the Durkee Fried Onions in a can. Don't get me wrong I loooove that casserole. But sometimes it's nice to change things up a bit and this maybe the new green bean dish to serve for the holidays.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb	fresh green beans cleaned
3 oz	of blue cheese
1 pt	heavy cream
1/2 c	plain bread crumbs
1/4 c	melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Bring salted water to a boil and add the green beans and boil for 6 mins.

Drain in a colander lined with a paper towel.

Mix butter and bread crumbs together until crumbley.

In a casserole dish sprinkle about a third of the bread crumb mixture on the bottom of the dish.

Then place the beans on top.

Crumble the blue cheese and add that next.

Pour the cream over the beans and cheese.

Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs over the top and bake for 15 mins. When you take it out of the oven let it rest until the cream settles. 

For those who just love blue cheese this is a wonderful dish.

Popover Chicken

We all learn from the best. I consider my Mom the best. Not at just being a mom but even my best friend. From my childhood I remember a few recipes she made that have stuck in my head all these years and one is her popover chicken. It's a recipe she didn't make that often so it was always tucked away some where. Sadly the last time she tucked it away, it was tucked away real good and hasn't been found in quite some time. So with looking for it or a similiar recipe we came up with this one and it is really very close...

Popover Chicken

Serves/Makes:   4
 

Ingredients:
1 chicken (3 lb size), cut into pieces
3 tablespoons flour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons shortening
***Batter***
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
5 eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted butter




Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wipe pieces of chicken dry. Mix flour, salt and pepper. Put on plate or wax paper. Lightly coat each piece of chicken with flour mixture.

Melt shortening in skillet. When very hot, add chicken pieces and brown on all sides. Remove to paper towels and pat free of excess oil.

Grease 13 x 9" deep baking dish (3 quart). Place in oven while mixing popover batter:

In large bowl, mix flour with salt. Make well in center of flour and drop eggs into well. Beat eggs lightly, barely incorporating flour.

Add milk and melted butter and beat only until batter is well blended. Pour batter into very hot baking dish. Put pieces of browned chicken on top. Put dish back in oven and bake 30 minutes.

Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Bake 10 minutes more or until batter is golden brown.

Hot Chicken Casserole

Casseroles are comfort food. And we all love comfort food. This chicken casserole I found in an old southern cookbook.

Hot Chicken Salad Recipe

Ingredients
* 2 cups - diced chicken (pre-cooked)
* 2 cups - chopped almonds
* 2 cups - celery (chopped)
* 1 cup - cracker crumbs
* 6 - chopped hard boiled eggs
* 2 cans - creamed chicken soup (undiluted)
* 4 tablespoons - lemon juice
* 1 cup - mayonnaise
* Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Mix and place in greased casserole and bake for 40 minutes at 350.