Casserole Query

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Personal aside, I have a test and project due tomorrow, which means I've been in superfocus mode the past few hours (oddly enough, no caffeine). The downside of superfocus mode is that I often cannot sleep well that night. I don't like using it very often, but I had to work and help out with some chores at home today. You don't catch up by going slower.

In any case, since I'm here and unable to sleep, I might as well make the most of it and post a cooking query. It's pretty simple, but before that let me tell you a joke one of my history teachers told me...

Mr. B: Do you know why Baptists make the best casseroles?
D2: I don't know, why?
Mr. B: Because they put all their vices in them!

Don't worry, it flew over my head the first time, too.

There are many kinds of casseroles of course, and I like a lot of them. Thanks to growing up in a Baptist church, I have a strong affinity for casseroles.

I <3 casserole.

Oddly enough, I've never actually tried to make it before. I guess I never had to thanks to all the kind ladies at the Baptist church. It's like, theirs is so good, why even bother trying to reproduce a flawed version? But I suppose it's time to try my hand at it.

So, my fine readers, how do you like your casserole? Got a good recipe you'd like to share? Any hints or tricks for this cooking newbie? Thanks in advance! ^_^

Comments

[0living-dreams0.livejournal.com]

When I talked to my mom about eating healthy on a budget, she said that casseroles are good to make. You get healthy, non-processed food with lots of servings :) The casserole she made the most was a chicken and rice casserole.

1-2 cups diced, cooked chicken
1 cup noodles or rice
1 cup frozen peas
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. chicken bouillon (chicken broth) *bouillon can be made with chicken gradules
and hot water. if you don't want to make it, just buy broth in a can*

Cook chicken and rice in separate pots. (I usually cook a whole small chicken since it gives us lots of leftover meat for lunch sandwiches and I cook the rice in our rice cooker) Make bouillon and mix with the cream of chicken soup. Combine chicken, peas and rice/noodles in a casserole dish. Stir in the soup mixture. If you want it to be creamier, you can add 1/2 cup of milk or even evaporated milk but it is optional. Season casserole with poultry seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Be careful not to put in too much salt since the soup mixture is already pretty salty. Bake at 350 degrees from 35 minutes and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

We had this casserole every other week growing up so I really like this one :) For something different, you can always put shredded cheese on top the last 5 minutes of baking. My mom always said the secret with casseroles is finding a good starch (noodles or rice), add a ground meat, a frozen vegetable and cream of *blank* soup and you can create whatever you want! I may start experimenting soon, but not until I've mastered this one :)


Another casserole that I made yesterday that Phil and I LOVED is Quick Mexican Casserole

1 lb ground turkey (or beef if you prefer, but the turkey was just as good!)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg Mexican Rice (I got the 60 second microwave kind in the Hispanic food aisle)
1 can Ranch-Style Beans with Jalapenos
Crushed Fritos
Shredded Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook turkey and onion in a medium skillet until onions are tender and meat is cooked through. Add in seasoning, rice and beans into the same skillet. Place mixture into a casserole dish and spread evenly. Top with crushed Fritos, then shredded cheese and place in the oven. Cook until cheese is bubbly (it was about 10 minutes for us). Enjoy!

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recipes! I have not made anything with ground turkey yet, so I will give the Quick Mexican Casserole a go some time. =)