30daysof ... Casseroles

The 30daysof...blog is written to inspire people to create habits that make a difference for others.  This month's topic is casseroles.  How do casseroles make a difference?  First, they save time for the working moms since they are easy to prepare and serve.  Second, they save money since it usually takes a day or two for a family of four to finish.  Every Monday, I will create a casserole from some favorite recipes below to feed the family.  Every recipe listed fits in a standard 9x13 casserole dish. Here are some favorites to try:

1. Shepherd's Pie
2. Chicken Pot Pie
3. Tuna Casserole Surprise!
4. White Sauce Enchilada Casserole
5. Red Sauce Chicken Enchilada Casserole using Trader Joe's Sauce
6. Green Sauce Enchilada Casserole
7. Vegetable Lasagna
8. Pepperoni Lasagna
9. Chicken Divan
10. Taco Mex Casserole
11. Breakfast Casserole
12. French Toast Casserole
13. Meatloaf Casserole
14. Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
15. Chile Verde Chicken Enchiladas 
16. Tater Tot Casserole (this is a variation to the Shepherds Pie Recipe)
17. Chicken and Noodle Casserole (coming soon)
18. Chili Relleno Casserole
19. Parmesan Chicken and Broccoli Casserole by The Cooking Photographer
20. Black Bean Spinach Enchiladas in green chili cream sauce by The Cooking Photographer
21. Artichoke Heart Casserole (I will add Chicken or another vegetable to this recipe)
22. Parmesan Spinach Casserole with Brown Rice by the Cooking Photographer
23. Chicken and Rice Casserole by Paula Dean
24. Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
25. Emeril's Creole Breakfast Bread Pudding or Sausage and Apple Breakfast Bread Pudding
26. Uncle Bucks Cheesy Potato Casserole
27. Beef Stroganoff Casserole by Paula Dean
28. Graham Cracker Pudding Casserole - So easy the kids can make it!
29. Cherry Dump Cake Casserole 
30. Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Casserole

Looking for appetizers or desserts to serve - See the 30daysof...Bite-Size Goodies post.

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Tuna Casserole - There's a Surprise inside

To me, traditional tuna casserole recipes are boring, ie: peas, cream of mushroom soup, noodles, and tuna.   So I added some of my favorite flavors (bacon, potato chips, garlic, mushrooms) to this classic recipe.   It came out delish!

INGREDIENTS
3 cans of white albacore tuna
1/4 tsp garlic powder or white pepper
1 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 cans of milk
1/2 white onion chopped
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (1 for Tuna, 1 for top of casserole)
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
6 slices of turkey bacon turned into crispy bacon bits
3 cloves of frozen garlic cubes
1 package of Elbow Macaroni
1 can of cheddar cheese sauce
1 cup crushed potato chips (I use Ruffles)

HOW TO MAKE
Preheat oven to 425˚.  Boil the macaroni until soft. Cook the bacon until crispy. Mix the macaroni with 1 can of cheddar cheese sauce, garlic, and bacon bits.  In a bowl combine all other ingredients - tuna, seasonings, mushroom soup, milk, onion, peas, mushrooms, and 1/2 the shredded cheese.
Layer the casserole with the noodle mixture first.  Then the tuna mixture.  Top the entire casserole with the remaining cheddar cheese and potato chips.
Bake for 20 minutes.

See 30 other great casserole dishes from the 30daysof...casseroles post.  Get in the habit of making one every Monday.

What is your favorite casserole?

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Vegetable Lasagna Casserole

This vegetable lasagna recipe is packed full of garden fresh vegetables and smothered in alfredo and tomato-basil sauces.  Tempting?  I haven't even mentioned the fresh basil, parmesan cheese or the Italian Style Smart Sausages© I added to each layer.  Here is how to make it.

INGREDIENTS
Lasagna Noodle (no-cook type)
Classico Tomato Basil Sauce
3 green squash
3 yellow squash
4 cups of mushrooms
1 onion
2 bell peppers
4 garlic cloves
2 cups of parmesan cheese
1 bunch of fresh basil (garnish)
1 package of Italian Style Smart Sausages (vegetarian) or Trader Joe's Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage

HOW TO MAKE
Cut the sausage into slices and brown in two tablespoons of olive oil and garlic.  Cut all vegetables and onion into 1/4 inch bites (slices)  (If you dice the veggies they will cook down too much.)  Add vegetables to the pan and cook until soft.  Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish and then begin layering with:

Noodles
Alfredo Sauce
Veggie and Sausage mix
Parmesan Cheese
Repeat again and top with noodles.

Pour remaining tomato sauce, then the alfredo sauce.
Bake at 350˚ for 60 minutes.
Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

To view more casseroles, visit the post 30daysof...casseroles.  Get in the habit of making one every Monday night.

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Graham Cracker Pudding Casserole

My daughter's nana makes this recipe and it is a family favorite.   It's so easy, even the kids can make it!  


INGREDIENTS
2 packages of cinnamon sugar graham crackers
1 box of instant vanilla pudding
3/4 container of dark chocolate frosting
3 bananas sliced
1 container of whipped cream (not in can)
1 cup pecans, choc. chips, almonds (optional)


HOW TO MAKE
Cover the bottom of the casserole dish with the graham crackers (whole)
Prepare the pudding as directed and spread evenly over the graham cracker layer.  Add the sliced bananas on top of the pudding layer.  (OPTIONAL - you can add pecans, chocolate chips, almonds, etc for an extra crunch over this layer or on the top of the casserole)
Defrost the whip cream and spread the entire container over the banana and pudding.
Top with the second package of graham crackers.
Melt the frosting for 1 minute in the microwave and pour directly over the entire dish.  (OPTIONAL - you can add pecans, chocolate chips, almonds, etc for an extra crunch over this layer or on top of the pudding layer in step 2.)
Chill for one hour (at least) before serving. The chocolate topping will harden and the graham crackers will absorb the pudding causing them to be soft.  


ENJOY 

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Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Casserole

Are you looking for heaven in a casserole dish - here it is!
Tip: best if made and served at home.  Traveling with this isn't pretty. That is why it looks like this.  


INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 c. flour
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. oats

1 TBSP cinammon
1 c. melted butter
1 1/2 c Mrs. Richardson's fat free caramel sundae sauce

(or make it homemade - see recipe) 
8 c. vanilla bean ice cream

HOW TO MAKE

Combine first five ingredients in large bowl. Add melted butter. Mix well until all the dry goods have been mixed with the butter. Place the mixture on a large baking sheet and firmly press it into a thin layer. Bake at 400˚for 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Crumble while warm. Cool. Press half crumb mixture into 13 x 9 inch pan. Drizzle with half of sauce. Spread with ice cream and remainder of crumbs and sauce. Cover and store in freezer.

I sprinkled chocolate chips on the top for some additional color. I think next time I will try and make a peanut butter and chocolate icecream casserole.

Enjoy!

Looking for other great casseroles to enjoy with the family or friends.  Here are 30 great casseroles from the 30daysof...blog.

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Chicken Divan Casserole

This casserole has is all - protein, vegetables, creamy sauce and crunchy bread. Even nicer, you choose the spice you are in the mood for - curry or Essence of Emeril.


INGREDIENTS
3lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 cup mushrooms
1 broccoli head
1/2 cup of curry OR Essence of Emeril
5 cloves of garlic (frozen) Trader Joes
4 slices of your favorite bread. 
1/2 cup of salted butter
Garlic salt

HOW TO MAKE
Boil 3lbs of boneless skinless chicken breast in 1/2 cup chicken broth and top with water.
Steam 1 head of broccoli until al dente.

In a bowl combine the cans of soup, 1 can of milk, 4 cloves of crushed garlic, 1/2 cup dehydrated onions.  Add the diced chicken and broccoli to the mixture. (Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (optional) Pour all ingredients into the casserole dish. Add the spice.
Top with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
For the bread topping: melt 1/2 cup of salted butter and 1 clove of garlic.  Add diced bread and coat evenly.  (I used old hot dogs buns for this recipe but sourdough works well)   Evenly spread the bread atop the casserole. 

Bake covered at 350˚ for 40 minutes.  Remove foil and cook for 10 more minutes at 375˚.

Enjoy.

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Shepherds Pie Casserole

Is your man a meat and potatoes kind-of-guy? If yes, then this casserole is for him!


INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. of ground beef or a pot roast*
1/4 cup of  Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 cup Beef Broth
3 dashes of Worteshire
1 white or yellow onion finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely diced*
1 pound bag of assorted vegetables* (corn, green beans, carrots and peas)
4 large baking (russet) potatoes
1 box of Trader Joe'sTurkey Gravy*


HOW TO MAKE
Prepare the potatoes and boil.  While boiling, chop the onion and cook in a pan along with the meat.  Brown the meat until cooked through and onions are translucent.  Drain grease. Add beef broth,  Worstershire, seasoning to the meat and onions.  Mix thoroughly and taste to see if you need more seasoning.  Place the meat in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.  Add the garlic to the pan along with the vegetables.  Cook until softened.  Pour vegetables atop meat in the casserole dish.
When pototoes are soft, mash them.  Add 1/2 cup and 1 stick of butter and season with salt and pepper.  Beat until creamy.  Layer the mashed potatoes on top of the vegetable and meat in the casserole dish. 
Bake at 375˚ for 30 minutes.  
Heat gravy in a saucepan and pour ontop of the casserole upon serving. 


*VARIATIONS
Cook a round roast in a crock pot with lipton onion soup mix and water.  Shred it and use as the base.
Put cheese on top of the potatoes. 
Substitute above vegetables with mushrooms, broccoli, etc.
Add garlic to your mashed potatoes.


Have you tried this recipe or any of the other casserole dishes we feature?  Make it a Monday Night habit.

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7-layer dip

WARNING:  This recipe will only last for 10 minutes before it is completely devoured. (as seen in the picture featured right)

HOW TO MAKE: 
In layer order


1. 1/2 can of Refried Beans mixed with 1 can of Frito Lay Bean Dip (Jalapeño flavor optional) Cover the bottom of the casserole dish
2. 1 layer of Classic Guacamole (Wholly Guacamole provides consistent quality and flavor)
3. 1 layer of Sour Cream mixed with Taco Seasoning  
4. 1 layer of your favorite Medium Salsa (I used Pace Picante in this batch)
5. 1 layer of mexican blend cheese
6. Diced tomatoes (sprinkled on top)
7. Green onions (sprinkled on top)


VARIATIONS OR ADDITIONAL LAYERS
Sprinkle cilantro on top or mix it with the guacamole
Use Trader Joe's Refried Black beans with Jalapeños in place of regular Refried Beans.


Looking for something else to wow your guests?  View other great casseroles or bite-sized goodies to bring as a appetizer, meal or dessert.

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Potato Casserole with Bacon and Chives

In our family we have an uncle we call "Uncle Buck." He earned this title during a vacation in which everything went wrong starting with hitting his head on the taxi upon arrival to waking up with chocolate left at the turn down service all over his face.

He happens to be the best person to take on a trip or introduce any new meal to as his most famous comment is, "this is the best thing I've ever eaten" or "this is the most fun I've ever had."

For this reason, we call this dish Uncle Bucks Famous Potato Casserole.  This is how it's made:

• 10 large russet potatoes
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream OR milk 
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled 
• 3/4 pound mild Cheddar, grated (3 cups)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Peel and Boil the potatoes well and rinse under cool running water. When the potatoes have cooled place them in  potato ricer and "rice them" in a large bowl.  Add 1 stick of the butter, sour cream, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Add the bacon, green onions, and eggs and mix thoroughly.

Butter a 9 by 13-inch casserole with the remaining tablespoon of butter and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.

Place the seasoned potato mixture in the prepared casserole and top with the remaining grated Cheddar. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and heated through and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. Serve hot.

If you want to try a casserole using mashed Potatoes, here is Paula Dean's Version. I have yet to try it but will for the holidays.

See also the sweet potato casserole we featured in 30daysof...Casseroles.

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Paper Tissue Flowers - Crafts with Kids

I saw a beautiful display at an outdoor school festival and wanted to try this craft for myself.  You can do it with the kids in 5 easy steps. We made these for a surprise birthday party for my daughters friend.

What you'll need:

• Pastel colored tissue paper
• Chenille stem
• Scissors
• Ruler

How to make it:

1. Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size (the size to the right is 13x9 inches) 
2. Stack around 15 pieces of tissue paper. Use the same color or different colors. If you want to use a smaller number of pieces of tissue paper, flower will not be as full. Accordion pleat the tissue paper working from the long side.
3. Wind one end of the chenille stem around the middle of the accordion pleated tissue paper. Trim the ends of each side to give the pedals a unique look. 
4. Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower. 
5. Do the second side and your flower will be complete.  

 Tips:

1. If you want to give your flowers some leaves, include a stack of green tissue paper folded accordion style during step 3. Trim the green paper into a shape of a leaf after step 5.
2. You can make hanging pompoms to hand in your childs room or above a food buffet as well.  Simply use larger dimensions of tissue paper in one color.  Tie the two halves together and hang from the ceiling.

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Cucumber Summer Salad

Last month we planted a garden.  This month we are using our vegetables from the garden in our dinner salads.   The most success has been with the cucumbers.  Check out the size of this big boy!  Besides slicing up the cucumber and drinking it with my water, I now make this fantastic cucumber salad recipe.  Try it for yourself.  It makes a great summer salad.

Ingredients


3 large cucumbers, peeled, thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
dash ground cayenne pepper
dash dried parsley flakes
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
dash dried leaf basil

How to make:

Combine all ingredients (except cucumbers) in a sauce pan on the stove: heat until sugar melts. Pour warm mixture over cucumbers. Store covered in refrigerator for at least 24 hours.  

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Chicken and Black Bean Casserole

I made this for my family last night and my husband said it was the best thing he has ever had.  That, or he was really hungry, because I didn't even have time to take a picture of it.  


INGREDIENTS


3 chicken breast
1 white onion
1 serrano chili
1 cup cilantro
1 can of Black Bean Refried Bean or Black beans.
2 bottles of Trader Joes Enchilada Sauce
10 Flour Taco Size Flour Tortillas
1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese


HOW TO MAKE


Dice the chicken breast and saute with the chopped onion and pepper until soft.  Add 1/2 jar of the enchilada sauce to the pan.  In a 9x13 casserole dish, pour a thin layer of sauce on the bottom, then cover with tortillas.  Add 1 can of black bean refried beans to the chicken mixture.  Pour the entire chicken mixture in the casserole dish and spread evenly.  Take the remaining tortillas and cover the casserole ingredients.  Pour sauce over the tortillas.  Cover with the cheese and cilantro for color.


Bake at 375˚ for 35 minutes.
Serve with Chips, Cilantro, and sour cream.


Get in the habit of making a casserole every Monday night like me.  
Here are 30 other recipes to choose from.  What's your favorite casserole?

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Chicken Chili Verde Casserole

Chicken, corn tortillas, and green chilies combine to create a comforting casserole the whole family will love.  

• 3-5 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 TBSP margarine
• 1 10 oz can cream of chicken soup
• 1 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
• 1¾ cup chopped green chile, drained
• 1 can of diced green chilies
• ½ cup chicken broth 
• 1 package corn tortillas (12)
• 1 lb cheese, grated pepper jack cheese
• Pico de Gallo Salsa From Mi Tapitio Grocery Stores

Preheat oven to 325 F

Boil the Chicken.  While chicken is boiling, Saute onion in margarine until slightly soft. Combine onion with soups, chile, broth & stir. Cut 1/2 tortillas into small pieces and cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Spread ½ the chicken over the tortilla pieces, then ½ the sauce, and ½ the cheese. Repeat layers.

Bake 30-40 min until very hot, bubbly and slightly browned. Layer the pico de gallo on top to serve or serve as a garnish.

 

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Chicken Pot Pie

This chicken pot pie recipe is almost better than the homemade chicken noodle soup my family requests over and over.  I double the recipe and freeze one. Just heat and serve to welcome a new neighbor or bring to a friend upon release from the hospital.

INGREDIENTS
4 cups of diced chicken (I boil chicken breasts, but you can use Chick-Fil-A Tenders or a roasted chicken)
2 cups of diced vegetable mix (carrots, corn, peas)
1 onion diced
1 cup broccoli (finely chopped)
2 cloves of garlic
2 small russet potatoes
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of milk (nonfat)
1 pie crust from Trader Joe's (2 crusts)

HOW TO MAKE
Defrost both pie crust and cook one crust per instructions on the box. Boil chicken breast and potatoes until cooked and tender.  (I like to boil them in a combination of chicken broth and water.)  In a large bowl combine all diced ingredients: chicken, vegetables, onion, broccoli, and potatoes. In a separate bowl mix soup, garlic and milk.  Mix all ingredients together until everything is coated evenly.  Pour all ingredients in the casserole dish with the cooked pie crust.  Top the casserole with the remaining crust.
Pierce holes in the crust to let steam vent.
Bake uncovered at 375˚ for 40 minutes. Cover for an additional 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

See other easy, tasty dishes from the 30daysof...blog featuring casseroles.

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Breakfast Casserole

Just look at the picture and the ingredients.  No other explanation is needed.  Yummy!

Breakfast Casserole

2 bags of frozen hashbrowns/potatoe mix
1 onion
2 cans of green chilies
1 pound of cooked and drained ham, bacon, or sausage
6 eggs
1 cup milk
Cheddar Cheese


How to make
Cook meat and drain the remaining oil, set aside. Cook hashbrowns and diced onions as directed on package.  Layer the hashbrowns and onion mix on the bottom of a greased 9x13 casserole dish.  Salt and pepper the hashbrowns. Whip the eggs and milk with a fork.  Add the chilies and pour egg mixture over the hashbrowns.  Top with shredded cheese until covered the way you like.

Bake at 350˚ for 30 minutes or until bubbling and firm.

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Chile Relleno Casserole

This is a family favorite and it tastes great.  Another variation is located at Simply Recipes.  Host a dinner party and ask a friend to make a version.  Whichever tastes better, the winner gets to keep for leftovers.

Chile Relleno Casserole

 

3 lg cans chopped ortega chilies

1 sm can evaporated milk

1 sm can tomato sauce

1 lb shredded cheddar cheese

1lb shredded jack cheese

6 tbsp flour

2 eggs

 

Mix milk, flour, and eggs, set aside.  In a 9 x 13 pan layer 1 and 1/2 cans of chilies followed by 1/2 of the jack cheese and 1/2 of the cheddar cheese.  Repeat layers of chilies and cheeses.  In a separate  bowl mix milk, flour, and eggs.  Pour mixture over chilies and cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown on edges.  Top with tomato sauce and bake for and additional 15 minutes. 

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The Best Meat Loaf Casserole Ever!

At age 10 I encountered a meatloaf situation that haunted me until I tried the recipe below.  We were in the mountains and dinner was served - a big glob of meatiness sliced like a piece of bread.  As a girl who needed all food to be separate on her plate, this compilation of bread, meat, eggs, and green items stimulated my gag reflex immediately.  The solution - ketchup. And lots of it.  However, after I drenched the meaty glop in the best condiment created, the cook herself was appalled that I destroyed her dish.  She made me "try" it the natural way first.  I did and it was the first and last time I touched meatloaf until I tried my sisters recipe 30 years later.  

You can cook it in a casserole dish or your can put the mixture into muffin tins.  Either way, you will not need any ketchup for this recipe.  And it has been kid tested too.

Ingredients

1 envelope lipton onion soup mix

1 lb ground beef

1 lb ground pork

3/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs

2 eggs (beaten)

1/2 c. milk (optional)

3/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1  t. season salt

1/4 t. black pepper

1/2 t. basil, oregano, mixed herbs

 

1. Mix eggs, soup mix, bread crumbs, seasonings, ketchup, milk, onions and green pepper together. Add ground meat; mix well. Lightly pat mixture into baking dish.

 

2. Bake at 350 for 1 to 1 1/4 hrs or until meat registers 160 on meat thermometer.

 

3. In a small bowl mix together sauce ingredients. :

 

1 can tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1 T. apple cider vinegar

1 teas worsteshire sauce

1/2 - 1 t. chili powder

 

Drain off excess oil. Pour over meat. Bake last 30 minutes.

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