No, we’re not going green for Thanksgiving, we’re just serving a couple of green vegetable dishes. And now I’m sharing them with you.

Green Bean Casserole
I don’t mess with a classic – except to double the recipe so there are lots of leftovers! Oh, and I add more pepper. Never enough pepper. However, Allura suggested using fresh green beans instead of canned. I don’t know how I didn’t think of that since I make fresh garlic green beans for us periodically. So here’s the modified recipe:

• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 36 oz. fresh green beans
• 2 2/3 cups French’s fried onions

1. Prepare green beans & steam for 12-15 minutes.
2. Mix soup, milk and pepper in a baking dish. Stir in beans and 1 2/3 cups French Fried Onions.
3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until hot.
4. Stir. Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes until onions are golden.

Nana’s Pea Salad
Sebastian isn’t a huge fan of this, but I don’t really care. It’s holiday tradition, and I love it, especially when it leaves leftovers because the flavors have more time to set up. In fact, I’m making this on Wednesday to not only get it out of the way, but also to allow it to really set up.

• 2 cans Le Sueur Peas, drained
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 lb. mild cheddar cheese, cubed (small chunks)
• 1 jar of sweet gherkins, cut into small pieces
• 1 jar of pimentos
• 1 small jar of Miracle Whip

1. Pour peas into a medium bowl.
2. Add onion until you think it’s enough.
3. Add cheese cubes until you think it’s enough.
4. Add sweet gherkin pieces until you think it’s enough.
5. Add pimentos – until you think it’s colorful enough.
6. Add Miracle Whip just until you think it’s enough. Really it should be just enough to slightly coat the ingredients.

As you can see, it’s really just a “until it looks good” kind of recipe, as most family ones are. However, the type of peas are important. These are the ones in the silver can. Something about other canned peas just doesn’t work well in this recipe.

Related posts:

1. The End of a Tradition?
2. Southern Cooking for New Years
3. Steak in a Crock Pot