Green Bean Casserole with Fried Leeks

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves dried
• 1.3 pounds green beans fresh trimmed
• 16 ounce mushrooms fresh sliced
• 2 large leeks cleaned thinly sliced
• 0.5 cup madeira wine 
• 6 servings vegetable oil; peanut oil preferred 
• 6 servings salt 
• 2  shallots finely chopped
• 1 cup whipping cream 

Equipment

• frying pan
• paper towels
• sauce pan
• oven
• sieve
• baking pan

Directions

1. Melt butter in large heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add mushrooms and thyme; saut 5 minutes.
3. Add shallots; saut 3 minutes or until tender.
4. Add Madeira, and cook over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until liquid evaporates.
5. Add whipping cream, and cook 2 to 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Meanwhile,cook beans in a small amount of boiling water 5 minutes or just until crisp-tender; drain.
8. Add beans to mushroom mixture, and toss gently. Spoon into a greased 2-quart gratin dish or shallow baking dish. Cover and keep warm.
9. Pour oil to depth of 2" into a 3-quart saucepan; heat to 35
10. Fry leeks in 3 batches, 40 seconds or until golden.
11. Remove leeks with small metal strainer; drain on paper towels. Immediately sprinkle with salt.
12. Sprinkle fried leeks over warm bean mixture.
13. Bake, uncovered, at 400 for 5 minutes or until casserole is thoroughly heated.