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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