Monday, January 4, 2010

Very Simple DELICIOUS Potato-Chicken-Veggie Casserole

OMG I made the BEST casserole a couple days ago, for the first time in a loonnngg time. And it was absolutely delicious and very simple. Just thinking of it, I wish I had leftovers.

You need (per person): one baked potato, sliced and just slightly underdone; half small zucchini, sliced; some broccoli, chopped up; any other veggies you would like to add--sauteed mushrooms, chopped greens, string beans, used your imagination and palate; one smallish onion, finely chopped; 4 oz turkey or chicken, coarsely chopped (can be deli chicken or leftover from baked/grilled chicken or turkey); one tablespoon butter; a few cloves of garlic, pressed; thyme; black pepper; about 1 or 2 oz cheese, grated--can be sharp cheddar, robusto (a WONDERFUL cheese, and you only need a little for flavor), emmenthal, whatever you like, mix and match; and Ian's Panko bread crumbs (couple tablespoons). Also you will need about 1 cup of hot milk, or half milk, half water, and a tablespoon or so of flour--can be rice or wheat.

You can chop all your ingredients first, so everything is ready to be put together quickly. And pre-heat the oven to about 350 degrees. Butter a small square or loaf pan (I used a glass 8 inch square pan).

Make a white sauce by sauteing the onion in a tablespoon of butter until it is slightly browned. Add the garlic, thyme and black pepper. Sprinkle the flour on this onion mixture, brown slightly, and add the hot milk a bit at a time, stirring until milk/onion/butter mixture thickens, not too thick, but creamy is best.

OK, that's IT!!!!

Now, just lay a layer of sliced potato (I cut the potato in half lengthwise and then sliced it thinly), throw on some zucchini and chicken or turkey, then spoon on a bit of the white sauce, then some cheese. Repeat this, with other veggies in place of zucchini, a couple more times.

Last layer will be a bit of cheese, and the couple tablespoons of Ian's Panko breadcrumbs sprinkled on top.

Cover pan with foil and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until you see everything bubbling. At this point, remove the foil and let the breadcrumbs brown under the broiler for JUST A FEW MINUTES!!! Don't burn them!!!

Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes. You can serve this with a salad, or absolutely nothing. It is nourishing and SO SO DELICIOUS!!!! Hmm hmm hmm!

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