Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Recipe Day! (Gourmet Casserole)

This is a great casserole for when you want a change of pace from the "cream of chicken soup" line up that a lot of casseroles call for. (And that I actually use on a fairly frequent basis.)

You could substitute any meat for the ham; actually, sometimes I just dice up whatever sandwich meat I have on hand and use that. A couple times I've made it with ham AND chicken (because that's what kind of sandwich meat I had) and it turned out great. I suppose even browned hamburger or ground turkey would work too, although I've never tried them!



Gourmet Casserole

1 C milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened (A few seconds in the microwave will do it--just be sure to take it out of the wrapper first!)
1/2 t. salt (plain salt, garlic salt, onion salt, or Lowry's seasoned salt all work)
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 C cooked, cut up ham (or any other meat)
1/2 C celery, chopped (I never have it, so I never use it)
1/4 C green pepper (never have it, never use it, and I don't like it--much to Steve's dismay)
4 oz noodles

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. While they're cooking, mix milk, cream cheese, salt, garlic powder and 1/4 C Parmesan cheese.
3. Drain noodles and toss with ham, celery and green pepper in a casserole dish (the size that's a bit smaller than the 9x13--don't know the exact measurements.)
5. Pour milk/cream cheese mixture over. Stir to moisten the noodles.
6. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese

Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

You can top it with a little cheddar cheese and paprika for color after baking. Or you could crush some Ritz crackers, mix with a little melted butter and sprinkle that over the top. Or if you want to be really adventurous, do ALL of the above--crackers, cheddar, paprika. Yummy and lovely!

If you make it, let me know how it goes, and whether or not you did any variations. (I love me some variations!)



2 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

Anonymous said...

We're not big on green pepper either but we are loving red, yellow and orange! Maybe some red would work and give the "hotdish" some nice color.

Nice to be back on-line although I can't find my email addresses or my CB favorites list!

Hugs!
Connie

A Mom's Serious Blunder said...

I have been visiting the Pioneer Woman's Site...she has some great recipes! So glad you sent me her way. Tonight I made the Chicken and Rice soup recipe and it was out of this world and quick too! I also made her Chicken and Noodle recipe, (I always seem to have left over chicken). It was very good... thick and delicious. My kids loved it which is not an easy accomplishment.