Is Green Bean Casserole on YOUR Menu This Year?

Trader Joe's Green Bean Casserole (recipe at bottom of post).

Have you ever had TJ's version of green bean casserole? Really, it is sooo much better than the canned soup version. You should try it (scroll down for recipe)! Turns out if you Google "Trader Joe's Green Bean Casserole" the third page that comes up is this one from Jahjong. The first two are from a TJ's fan website, but funny they are not the recipe from the back of their french fried onions. It seems TJ's no longer prints the recipe on the back of the french fried onions. Plus, you generally need your list to know what to purchase before you head to the store. All this has led to that recipe being almost the most popular entry on this site (other than the nursery reveal). Who would have thought me taking the time to list my Thanksgiving recipes last year would appease so many people from all over the world planning their Turkey Days. I get tons of hits from visitors and even comments from people thanking me for posting it. So funny.

Looking at that photo does make my mouth water. However, I won't be having any of that this year. Thanksgiving really snuck up on us given all of our attention focused on Elyse. Given our lack of planning and having a newborn, we considered heading out of town for some one-on-one time with our favorite baby girl. As much as we discussed it, deep down, I knew we'd stay home and do dinner. We host Thanksgiving each year around my favorite dining room table. It is something that means a lot to me as I love to entertain, but it is also something my Mom used to do so it makes me feel close to her. Hosting these holiday dinners helps me to feel that I am connecting with her somehow. We are hosting dinner at home, but were inclined to try something different this year. My brother comes each year and he also has dinner with his wife's family. Two turkey dinners - wow, that's dedication. This year, Corey is in luck. We are doing BBQ - no duplicate dinners for him! We'll definitely be doing ribs and I'm thinking of also making creamed corn, baked beans, cowboy caviar and sour cream apple pie with streusel topping and rolls.

Don't worry, we'll get our Turkey Day cravings satisfied. We can smoke a turkey and have our favorite green bean casserole on Christmas Eve! Wondered if any of you have ever done a non-traditional Thanksgiving?

In case you missed it, here is the green bean casserole recipe one more time:

TRADER JOE'S GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

2 T (¾ c) butter
2 medium onions
2 lbs mushrooms, quartered
4 t coarse salt
1 t pepper
2 24 oz bag TJ’s frozen French green beans
¾ c flour
4 c milk
2 cans 8 oz TJ’s Gourmet Fried Onion pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In your largest skillet over medium heat, melt 4 T butter. Add onion and sauté until begins to soften, about four minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until softened. Season with 2 t salt and ½ t pepper and set aside to cool.
Cook green beans according to directions on bag. If you buy Trader Joe's green beans there are no directions. Just boil water and cook beans until cooked through. Pour beans into strainer and set aside.
Melt remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add ½ c of flour, whisking constantly until mixture begins to turn golden, about two minutes. Pour in milk and continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about three minutes. Stir in remaining salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Pour over beans and toss to combine with onion/mushroom mixture.

Butter a 9x13 pan and add spread out casserole mixture.
Bake casserole, covered, until mixture is bubbly and heated through – about ten minutes. Uncover and cook until top is golden brown about 30 seconds. Sprinkle Trader Joe’s onion pieces over top and serve.