Home-style Green Bean Casserole

1 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed
2 T. butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 T. ranch dressing mix
2 t. chopped fresh thyme
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 t. butter
1 (8 oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
Vegetable cooking spray
1 cup French fried onions, crushed
1/2 cup panko crumbs
2 plum tomatoes, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Cook green beans in boiling water to desire doneness; drain.  Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
2.  Melt 2 T. butter and whisk in flour until smooth.  Cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute.  Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until sauce is thickened.  Remove from heat, and whisk in buttermilk and next 4 ingredients.
3.  Melt 1 t. butter in a skillet and add mushrooms.  Saute 6 to 8 miuntes.  Gently toss mushrooms and green beans in buttermilk sauce.  Place in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. 
4.  Combine French fried onions and next 2 ingredients; spinkle over green bean mixture. 
5.  Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Fried Confetti Corn

8 bacon slices
6 cups fresh sweet corn or frozen can be used
1 cups diced sweet onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, cubed
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp.  Drain on paper towels, reserving 2 Tbsp. drippings in skillet.  Coarsely crumble bacon
Saute corn and next 3 ingredients in hot drippings in skillet over medium meat about 6 minutes or until tender.  Add cream cheese and half-and-half, stirring until cream cheese melts.  Stir in sugar and next 2 ingredients.  Transfer to a serving dish, and top with bacon.

Spicy Sweet Potatoes

4 sweet potatoes
2 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Peel and cut potatoes into large french fry chunks.  Mix all other ingredients.  Coat with cooking spray and then in mixed spices.  Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes.  Turn and bake for 10 more minutes.