Tag: casseroles

Starches

Brussels Sprouts & Cauliflower Gratin

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Why is it that when I post something other than desserts I feel like I am becoming a health nut? It’s not that I don’t ever cook veggies or salads, but it just isn’t as much fun to read about Brussels Sprouts or Cauliflower as it is chocolate, cream cheese, whipping cream or brownies, unless you are truly a Veggie Tales fan! But for all you folks out there that think that you have to get all of your veggie servings in every day, maybe this recipe will make you smile. I hope it does, after I post it, I am going to finish baking chocolate chip cookies for us to munch on tonight while we watch Black Lists…hum…should we snack on Cauliflower or cookies? Get my point?

4 cups fresh cauliflowers’

4 cups fresh Brussels sprouts, quartered

4 bacon strips, chopped

1 large sweet onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cups milk

2/3 cup half & half cream

1 teas salt

1/4 teas pepper

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan & Romano cheese blend

Place cauliflower and sprouts in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cove and cook for 2 to 3 minutes crisp-tender; drain.

In a large skillet cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain reserving the bacon drippings.

Sauté the onion and garlic in drippings until onion is tender. Stir in flour until blended and whisk in milk, cream, salt and pepper stirring so gravy does not form lumps. Bring to a low boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Stir in cauliflower and sprouts which have been drained. Then stir in bacon. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Cover and bake in preheated 375 oven or 15 minutes. Combine bread crumbs and cheese. Uncover veggies and sprinkle cheese-bread crumb mixture over top and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Beef · Casseroles · Daily Thoughts · Meats

Cannelloni-Style Lasagna

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The sun has been shining for a few days and it was such a nice change from the gloominess that we have been experiencing. But, tonight the drops are coming back and that means just one thing…I am in the kitchen baking and eating. Why is it, that the cold, rainy weather makes me want to just bake? I guess that if I lived where it was sunny all the time, I wouldn’t be fat, it is not my fault, it is the weather. When it is sunny, salads sound so good, but cold weather makes me want cobblers, pot roast, chocolate chip cookies and hot bread with butter. If spring doesn’t get here pretty soon, I will be up a dress size. So, back to the recipe, this lasagna sounds just perfect for serving when it is raining. It is out of Taste of Home and combines two kinds of sauce.

Cannelloni Style Lasagna

1 tables olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped celery

1/4 cup finely chopped carrot

2 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 lb ground beef (or turkey)

3/4 lb ground pork

1/3 cup white wine or beef stock

2/3 cup beef stock (it will be 1 cup total if you use the stock instead of the wine)

1 bay leaf

3/4 teas Italian seasoning

1/2 teas coarsely ground pepper

1/4 teas salt

2 jars (15 oz ea) Alfredo sauce, divided

2 egg yolks

1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

1 pack (9 oz) no cook-lasagna noodles

In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery and carrot; cook and stir 4-6 min or until tender. Add minced garlic; cook 1 min.

Add the beef (or turkey) and pork; cook until meat is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in white wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is almost evaporated, about 1 min.

Stir in stock and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered about 15 min to allow flavors to blend. Cool slightly. Remove bay leaf; stir in 1 cup Alfredo sauce and the egg yolks.

Preheat oven to 350. To assemble, spread 3/4 cup marinara sauce into a greased 9×13″ baking dish. Layer with flour noodles, 3/4 cup Alfredo sauce and 2 cups meat mixture. Top with four more noodles and 3/4 cup marinara sauce. Layer with flour noodles, 3/4 cup Alfredo sauce and remaining meat mixture. Top with remaining noodles and marinara sauce. Drizzle remaining Alfredo sauce over top.

Bake, covered, 30-40 minutes. Uncover and bake 20-25 more minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 15 min before serving.

Casseroles · Chicken · Daily Thoughts · Meats · Starches

Chicken Florentine Manicotti Alfredo

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Received my new Southern Lady magazine. I have wiped off the drool from the front cover as it displayed a gorgeous pecan-date pie which is just divine and went quickly pass the desserts in search of a new dinner recipe. This one sounded like it was meant for today, since we woke up to 27 degrees and need something that will “stick to our bones”. Of course during the last 2 months we have found lots of recipes that have “stuck to our bones”. That is why we are shopping this week for new clothes…a size larger. Of course we always say that we are just going mall walking, but in reality, all we do is walk into the stores and see what is on sale. But it sounds great when friends call and ask what we have been up to. “oh just got back from our walking the mall.”

Makes 6-8 servings *This recipe also freezes very well

4 cups chopped cooked chicken

2 1/2 cups chopped fresh spinach

2 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup firmly chopped green onion

1 teas garlic powder

1 (8 oz) package manicotti, cooked according to package directions

1/4 cup butter

2 tables flour

1/2 teas salt

2 cups whole milk

1/4 teas ground white pepper (I am cheating and using black, do not want to go back to grocery store)

1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 tables Italian seasoning

1/2 teas ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine chicken, spinach, cream cheese, green onion, and garlic powder.

Beat at medium speed until well combined with hand mixer. Spoon chicken mixture into manicotti and place in prepared pan; set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until melted. Add flour, salt and white pepper; cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Gradually add milk, continuing to whisk. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 4 min, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened.

Remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Spoon sauce over manicotti and sprinkle evenly with Italian seasoning and pepper.

Bake for 35 to 40 min or until bubbly and heated through.

*To make ahead and freeze you can completely make the casserole and just cover and freeze without baking. When ready to serve, thaw completely and bake in preheated 350 degree oven, uncovered for about 40 minutes or until bubbly hot.

Casseroles · Daily Thoughts · Starches

Rice & Lentil Casserole

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After scraping the pan this afternoon of the caramel banana pudding that I made for dessert tonight, I thought the least I could do would be to post something healthy to make myself feel like I have not completely gone to the dark side of life…..an all sugar diet.  This is one of the recipes that I told you about that I found while waiting in the Dr’s office in California. When you read the ingredients….well, even just the title, you can tell that it would come from a Dr’s office magazine and not a Southern Living Magazine, I think Lentil and Southern comfort food might even be an oxymoron. Anyway…for all you folks out there that  are on restricted  diets of no meat, no gluten or diary, this one is for you. But please at least end your meal with a cookie or Red Delicious apple, you can only go so long without sugar. At least that is what I tell myself around 4 every afternoon.

1 cup uncooked basmati rice

1 cup dried split green lentils

1 (10 oz) package chopped spinach (thawed and squeeze as much moisture as possible out of spinach)

1 teas salt

1/2 teas pepper

1 teas turmeric

1 teas ground cumin

1 Tables grated fresh ginger

Be sure to rinse lemtils before cooking.  In a large saucepan, add rice, lentils, salt & pepper, turmeric, cumin and ginger.

Bring mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, covered, cooking for 45 min, stirring occasionally. Cover the saucepan, continue cooking over low heat until all liquid is absorbed. Add more water if needed to be sure rice and lentils are completely done.

Makes 6 servings

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Cheese & Green Chile Casserole

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I am having a ball going through and choosing recipes that we will be having all through the holiday season. It is fun to make them early to see if they are winners or will be tossed aside. This recipe is from 2006 SL Christmas and if I were a betting woman, I would bet that this will be gracing our table all through the holidays.

*This recipe won Editors Favorite

Preheat oven to 350.

9 large eggs

3/4 teas salt

3  (8 oz) packages Monterey Jack cheese, cubed

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, cubed

1 (12 oz) container small-curd cottage cheese

1 tables butter, cut into small pieces

3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 teas baking powder

1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chiles, drained

1 ( 2 oz) jar diced pimientos, drained

whisk together eggs and salt in a large bowl. Add cheeses and butter. Whisk flour and baking powder into cheese mixture. Add green chiles and pimiento. Pour into a lightly greased 13×9″ baking dish.

Bake, uncovered at 350 for 45 min or until set. Let stand 10-15 min before serving.

Yield: 16 servings

Casseroles · Starches

Tex-Mex Casserole

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Finally getting unpacked and having a chance to catch up with magazines which came while we were on the road for 2 months, I came across this casserole which I want to make this week. We are truly back in the land of Tex-Mex, which we certainly take advantage of every Wednesday night. El Fenix still has their 2 enchilada special for $5.99 which includes beans and rice and unlimited baskets of great light, thin chips and great salsa. But between Wednesday nights, I sometimes get in the mood for Mexican food. This time, I have a new recipe which will assuredly satisfy that craving. Thanks to Food Newwork Magazine, this dish is shared…

2 (15 oz) cans refried pinto beans

2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted)

2 poblano chile peppers, seeded and chopped

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for topping

2 teas ground cumin

1 teas ancho chile powder

1 (16 oz) jar salsa

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles (like Rotel)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded muenster cheese (about 8 oz)

18-20 corn tostado shells

2 avocados sliced

Sour cream and picked jalapenos and cilantro for topping (if desired)

Combine the refried beans, frozen corn, poblanos, ¼ cup cilantro, cumin and chile powder in a medium bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine the salsa, tomatoes and remaining ¼ cup cilantro. Toss the cheddar and muenster cheese in a 3rd separate bowl; set aside.

Spray your slow cooker with Pam and then spread about ½ cup of the salsa mixture in a thin layer of a 6 qt slow cooker. Top with about 6 tostado shells, breaking them as needed to cover the bottom. Spread half of the bean mixture over the broken shells, then sprinkle with 1 ½ cups of the cheese mixture and 1 cup of the salsa mixture. Repeat the layers, (tostado shells, bean mixture, cheese, salsa mixture) then

Top with remaining tostadas, cheese and salsa.

Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Uncover and let rest 15 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.

*I will not be using the slow cooker, but will use a 9×13 greased baking dish and bake for approx. 45 min to 1 hour, or until casserole is bubbling and is heated throughout.

 

Casseroles · Holiday Fare · Vegetables

Baked Zucchini In Sour Cream

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Well, here it is folks, another (and I might add, probably the last veggie recipe this week, as I’m dying to post several new desserts) veggie recipe and since yesterday I said I would post a squash recipe, I thought that this one would be well received. It is from a cookbook that my aunt gave me back in the 60’s and each book of the set specializes in one of the following: salads, meats, vegetables and of course, desserts. The first cake I ever made came from the dessert book and I still make it today. A one bowl…oops, I always go back to desserts, don’t I? Back to the squash (did Adam name it that? and if so, how did he come up with that name? Squash) Was there a vegetable in the Garden of Eden that he accidentally sat or stepped on or did he taste something he didn’t like and wished that it would “squash away?” in the flood? Anyhow, this recipe is a great one for fall and is easy and really rich and flavorful. BTW, do not email me that the flood was years after Adam, I was just trying to be funny.

6 zucchini

2/3 cup sour cream

1 c grated Cheddar cheese

1 tables butter

1/2 teas salt

3 tables fresh bread crumbs

2 tables grated cheese

Cut squash into 1/2″ slices; simmer in water for 10 minutes.  Drain water from squash well.  Place in 8″ casserole dish that has been lightly greased. In a medium size bowl, combine sour cream, Cheddar cheese, butter and salt. Pour sauce over squash. Combine bread crumbs and remaining cheese; sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes, or until bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Serves: 6

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Jalapeño Corn Casserole

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Delicious and from a lady in Huntsville, Texas comes this great recipe for corn. Include it in your Mothers Day buffet. There won’t be any left.

4 (15.25 oz) cans whole kernel corn, drained

1/2 cup butter

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup canned evaporated milk

4 tables flour

4 jalapeños, seeded and chopped (now, if you are so inclined and do not like jalapeños, use a small can of chopped green chiles.  Still “kicks” it up a notch.

Preheat oven to 400

Place corn evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish, which you have spayed with Pam.

In small saucepan, combine butter and cream cheese, stirring until butter and CC is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in milk and flour and continue coming until mixture is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes.

Stir in jalapeños or green chiles. Pour butter mixture over corn; mix well. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and edges begin to brown lightly.