A Green Bean Casserole That is Actually YUMMY!

I have a confession:

I do not like green bean casserole. I tried it for the first time at a church potluck. It looked delicious and I heaped it onto my plate with high expectations for lots of yummy-ness. Oh. my. word. Was I ever surprised. And honey, it wasn't a good surprise.

The stuff was awful.

I tried other green been casseroles after that but just never liked them. That is, until my daughter tried a recipe that she found on Facebook. (For the record, I am not a fan of Facebook Cookbooking. That's what Pinterest is for. But that doesn't mean that I haven't benefited from it a few times. Ahem.) This recipe isn't your average run-of-the-mill green bean casserole. It is a bubbly, creamy, cheesy, melt-in-your-mouth, glorified green bean casserole!

Okay, so I'm being a little ridiculous and possibly going a tad overboard for just a veggie side dish. But seriously. You have to try it.

This picture isn't real pretty, but it's the picture that was posted with the recipe. Our casserole didn't last long enough to photograph.

I would happily link to whoever posted it originally, but I have no idea where it actually came from.

And without further ado, here's the recipe:

Green Bean casserole.... One bite and you will never go back to the "old way" of making green bean casserole ever again. No "cream of something" soup in this baby.
This recipe is much better than the standard mushroom soup and French fried onion version.

Ingredients=
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 cup onion, diced
1 cup sour cream
3 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crumbled buttery round crackers
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions=
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Wounded by God's People (Book Review)

When I saw the title of this book, I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I could!

Have you been wounded by God's people? I have, and I know so many others who have, as well. People always hurt other people, but...somehow it's worse when the wounding is done by someone who claims to represent the God of love. 

Anne Graham Lotz does a beautiful job of speaking to the hearts of both the wounded and the wounders. Her retelling of Hagar's story is both relevant and poignant and her sharing of her personal experiences brings it all close to home. This book offers hope and healing and is a must read for anyone who fits the description of the title, Wounded by God's People. I'll definitely be loaning out my copy. 

Read on for more info:

Book Description

From bestselling author and daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, Anne Graham-Lotz in her new book,Wounded by God’s People, uses the story of Hagar to help people move past their wounds and into the joy and fellowship of God’s presence.

Tucked into Abraham’s biography is the story of Hagar, a young Egyptian slave with whom Abraham had a son named Ishmael. Hagar stands out because she was wounded—not physically, but in ways that were as emotionally and spiritually painful as any injury to a body would be. Some wounds were provoked by her own behavior, but others were inflicted by those who considered themselves God’s people.

As Hagar’s story unfolds, readers discover that wounded people often become wounders themselves. While Anne identifies with the wounded, the unpleasant reality is that she also identifies with the wounders because she has been one too. She knows from experience that wounding is a cycle that needs to be broken. And, according to Lotz, by God’s grace, it can be.

Many have had similar experiences where they have been wounded. Whatever their hurts may be,Wounded by God’s People will help them begin a healing journey—one that enables them to reclaim the joy of God’s presence and all the blessings God has for them.

I highly recommend this book!  ~Jessica