Green Bean Casserole

Dan Smith & Steve McDonagh's slightly tweaked recipe:

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons butter
2 shallots or 1/2 onion, finely chopped
8 ounces portabello mushrooms, sliced
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sherry
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
French's fried onions

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, thyme and sage and saute until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook 5 more minutes. Next add the sherry and stir until thickened. Add the cream and simmer an additional 5 minutes. Set sauce aside.

Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the beans, toss to coat with butter and saute until bright green, about 7 minutes. They'll still be crispy. Add the chopped bell pepper and toss together. Season with salt and pepper and place on a platter.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring the sauce to a simmer and spoon over the beans. Top with French's fried onions. Bake in oven for about 5 minutes or until onions become crunchy. Serve warm.