The casserole, by definition, any food cooked and served in the same dish, is a popular addition to the family dinner table or made for a potluck supper.
Casserole experts suggest a typical casserole will contain five points: protein, starch, vegetables, sauce and cheese, plus many variations of those points.
This week’s casserole recipes come from my favourite Mennonite cookbook.
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Hamburger Potato Pie
1 onion, chopped fine
2 tbsps. fat
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup cooked peas
1 cup canned tomatoes
1/2 cup ketchup
3 cups hot mashed potatoes
1 egg, beaten
Cook onion in hot fat until golden brown. Add meat and seasonings. Cook until meat no longer shows pink. Add peas, tomatoes and ketchup and mix well.
Pour into a large, greased casserole dish. Combine mashed potatoes and beaten egg and spread over meat mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. May be topped with shredded cheddar cheese in last 5 minutes.
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Golden Carrot Casserole
1 tbsp. chopped onion
3 tbsps. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup bread crumbs
2 cups grated raw carrots
Brown the onion in the butter and add the bread crumbs. Mix well then add other ingredients.
Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Bake in a moderate oven until brown. Serve hot with boiled eggs and a white sauce.
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Macaroni and Cheese Bake
1 1/2 cups scalded milk
1 cup soft bread cubes
1 tbsp. minced onion
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups grated cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup cooked macaroni
Prepare macaroni in boiling water, drain and set aside.
Pour scalded milk over soft bread cubes in a large bowl. Add minced onion and melted butter and stir.
Add grated cheese, salt and pepper and mix lightly. Add the beaten eggs (do not over beat). Add the cooked macaroni and mix gently.
Pour into a greased shallow baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45-50 minutes.
Note: may be served with a hot mushroom sauce made by heating a can of cream of mushroom soup with 1/4 cup milk. This sauce may also be mixed in with the macaroni and cooked in the casserole.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
