Herbed Green Bean Casserole

After finding this recipe in the Crisco Best Recipes -- Year-Round Holiday Magic cookbooklet of Nov 2003, I tweaked it slightly!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup  dried breadcrumbs, divided
• 2  teaspoons dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 2  teaspoons parsley
• 1  teaspoon garlic powder
• 1  cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1⁄2 cup  vegetable oil
• 2  lbs fresh green beans (or 2 14-oz cans of drained green beans)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. If using fresh beans, rinse them & cut them into 3"-to'4" pieces, before steaming them for about 15 minutes, or until they are only slightly crisp. Set beans aside.
3. In a large bowl whisk together breadcrumbs (I use crumbs from winter wheat or cracked wheat bread), basil, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, parsley, garlic powder & Parmesan cheese.
4. Add vegetable oil to crumb mixture & stir well, before setting aside 2 tablespoons of the crumb mixture for topping the casserole.
5. In an ovenproof dish, combine green beans & crumb mixture, then sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
6. Bake about 30 minutes or until top is golden & crispy.