GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook green beans in boiling salted water until tender, about 3 or 4 minutes. Drain well.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add brandy or cognac, red wine and chicken broth, bring to a boil. Simmer to blend flavors and reduce sauce, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add green beans to mushroom sauce and toss to coat. Place on a large serving dish, season again with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Top with fried onions before serving.
• 2 quarts peanut oil, for frying
• 2 large red onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups arborio rice coating, recipe follows
• Kosher salt
• Heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or deep pot to 375 degrees F.
• Put onion rings in a large bowl. Pour buttermilk over onions and toss to coat. Shake off the excess liquid.
• Dip onions into Arborio rice coating, covering thoroughly
• Fry the onions in small batches until crispy, about 2 minutes per batch. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside. Season with salt, to taste.
• 1 cup arborio rice
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semolina
• 2 tablespoons fine salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Grind the rice in a blender or spice grinder to a very fine powder. Put it in a bowl and add the flour, semolina, salt and pepper. Toss until well blended. Store in a sealed container in the freezer for maximum freshness.