Recipe Tuesday - Chicken Casserole a la Zeemaid

Recipe Tuesday Chicken Casserole a la Zeemaid

My children do not typically like their food mixed together so it was with some surprise that they actually ate this dish with gusto.  This is just your basic casserole dish and really, you can personalize it in so many different ways.  Like more spice?  Pepper away.  Less salt, more veg?  Go right ahead.  You know your family and you know their preferences.  This is what worked for my family.



Ingredients:

2 Cups Pasta noodles your choice
1 Can cream of chicken soup
1 Can of water
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp onion powder
1 package chicken stir fry, cubed or
1 package ground turkey or chicken
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions: 

Heat Oven to 350

1.  Prepare noodles according to package direction.

2.  Heat oil in pan over medium heat.

3.  Brown chicken or ground turkey etc, seasoning meat halfway through cooking with salt, pepper, garlic salt and onion powder.

4.   Add cream of chicken soup and one can of water and frozen peas.   Mix together and simmer over med-low heat until heated through.  You may be tempted to not add the whole can of water but trust me, the pasta absorbs all the excess water and if you add too little your dish will be dry.

5.  Once noodles are prepared, drain and pour into a casserole dish.


6.  Pour meat/sauce mixture over noodles and mix together.

7.  Mix approx half of the cheese mixture through the casserole and then spread the rest over the top.  Add more or less cheese if you like. 

8.  Take breadcrumbs and spread lightly over cheese mixture

9.  Bake in oven for approximately 20 - 30 minutes or until top is slightly browned and sauce is bubbling to the surface. 

Remove and serve.  I like serving a nice fresh salad with this.

Like I said you can add basically whatever you want to this.  I once added a couple of dashes of mild curry powder and my husband loved it.  Thought it was the tastiest dish ever.  Normally, I'd add mushrooms and onions because we are both partial to them but the kids aren't which is why I'm rather heavy on the onion powder. I just don't think you could ever add too much. ;)

Like I said, even my pickiest child will eat this casserole.  In fact it's not until they get to the end of their bowl that they suddenly tell me "I don't like this."  Yeah right.  That's why you've been silent for the last five minutes.  *L*

BTW doesn't it look just fabulous in my Rachael Ray cookware?  I'm still loving this blue dish.

Speaking of colour.... what colour do you think I should get my new kitchenaid in?  I'm having a tough time deciding.