Chicken and Cheese Casserole

3 or 4 chicken breasts - cooked and diced
1 pound vegetable blend (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onions) - Steam 10 min and drain
1 cube butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz velveeta

Combine and bake at 350 for 30 min

Sweet Potato and Turkey Shepherd's Pie

A different take on the traditional Shepherd's Pie. I made this yesterday for the first time and loved it. Sometimes there is nothing better than some good old comfort food!


4 strips thick-cut bacon, roughly chopped

2 carrots, peeled and grated

2 celery stalks, chopped

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 medium (about 2 1/2 pounds) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 pounds ground, lean turkey
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
10 ounces frozen peas
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken stock
2 - 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 425. Cover sweet potatoes with water in a medium pot and add a bit of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork-tender. When cooked, drain and return to pot. Mash lightly with a potato masher and stir in about 1/4 cup of the gravy (see below). Salt and pepper to taste.

While potatoes are cooking, in a large saute pan, brown bacon until almost crispy. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic and saute until barely tender. Add seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Add turkey to the mixture and brown until cooked through.

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and the Worcestershire sauce and whisk occasionally for a few minutes until thickened. Salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the gravy mixture into the vegetable/turkey mixture along with the peas (I didn't want to use all the gravy so I ended up only using about half of it) and remove from heat. Pour into a casserole dish and spread the top with the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top and set on a cookie sheet, to catch any drippings. Set in the oven and cook for about 8 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted. You can also turn on the broiler for the last few minutes to get a bit of a crust on top.

Chicken Breast Supreme

• 4 lb chicken breasts
• 2 cans cream of celery soup
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. savory seasoning
• Rice

- Cover chicken breasts with water and add savory seasoning. Boil until done. Place in 9x13 inch baking dish.

- Mix soup, mayonnaise, whipping cream, and Worcestershire sauce.

- Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, uncovered.

- Serve over rice.

This is another easy breezy recipe from Darin's mom. Very tasty! I often don't have all the ingredients, and its still really good with various substitutes. (cream of chicken instead of cream of celery) (milk instead of whipping cream) (low fat mayo instead of the real deal). Also, I sometimes bake it with the rice on the bottom.

Winter Carnival Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

1 1-lb. 12 oz. can tomatoes

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp. cornstarch

3 cups cooked macaroni or rice (I've never used rice)

l cup cheddar cheese-grated

Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain grease. Drain tomatoes; save 1/4 cup of liquid from tomoatoes. Add tomatoes, molasses, salt, chili powder, pepper and bay leaf to meat mixture. Bring to boil; cover and simmer 15 minutes. Blend cornstarch with tomato liquid; stir into meat mixture. Bring to boil, stirring. Add macaroni; pour into 2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes. Yield: 6 servings.

This recipe is unbelievably delish! It is from Natalie R. She brought be this casserole when Beau was born and I am telling you, my life has not been the same since. Yummy!

Tortilla Surprise Casserole

• 1 -2 cans tomato sauce
• package of small round corn tortillas
• 1-2 pounds ground beef
• 1 green pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 package frozen corn (or 2 cans drained)
• A large jar of salsa (any kind of salsa - I use this liberally)
• shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)

- Pam bottom of casserole dish

- Cook ground beef on the stove with chopped green pepper, onion and taco seasoning

- Layer all ingredients twice in dish: starting with tomato sauce to cover the bottom of dish, cover sauce with corn tortillas, cooked beef mixture, corn, salsa, then cheddar cheese. Repeat.

- Bake at 350 until cheese melted (usually 25 minutes), and broil 1 minute

- You can also add sliced olives to the top before baking

Thanks to my best Tiffany for this excellent concoction - she is a FABULOUS cook!