Generations of Americans grew up with French fried onions, a popular staple found in the famous green bean casserole. Without french-fried onions, holiday dinners just wouldn’t be the same: We love the distinctive flavor crunch.

So why not use this quintessential savory crunch in other holiday dishes? It’s easy to boost the flavor and crunch of any holiday recipe calling for breadcrumbs by substituting crushed french-fried onions. Measure for measure, substitute the onion crumbs in any recipe in which you ordinarily use breadcrumbs for a foolproof, tasty solution that offers crunch along with big flavor.

Besides adding a new element of flavor, this crunchy onion coating transforms recipes you usually fry to easy, no-fuss, no-mess, oven-fried dishes.

• Coat chicken fingers with crushed french-fried onions, bake until golden and serve with a warmed dip of apricot jam and prepared mustard.

• Dip sliced zucchini and mushroom caps in egg, then roll in crushed french-fried onions. Bake until crunchy and golden; serve with roasted red pepper mayonnaise for dipping.

• Pinch pieces of dough from a roll of refrigerated biscuits and dip in melted butter with a dash of hot pepper sauce; roll in crushed french-fried onions and bake. Serve hot.

• Double your onion flavor with onion rings dipped in egg whites and crushed french-fried onions.

• Give fried chicken new life with an oven-fry treatment with crushed french-fried onions. Enjoy this easy entrée on a holiday season weeknight while you prepare for entertaining on the weekend.

• Top all your favorite casseroles - from macaroni and cheese to chicken divan -with french-fried onion crumbs.

• Sport a new attitude with hot crab dip and hot artichoke dip with a golden crust of crushed french-fried onion.

1½ cups french fried onions1/3 pound flaked, sweetened coconut1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined2 egg whites, beatenHeat oven to 400 degrees. Place french-fried onions and coconut in plastic bag. Lightly crush with hands or rolling pin; shake to combine.Dip shrimp into egg whites; then coat with onion mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.Place shrimp on baking pan. Bake 10 minutes until shrimp are fully cooked and crispy.Makes 4 servings.Tip: For a far-East flavor, add 1 teaspoon curry powder to crushed onions.