Category: Make Ahead

Categories
Casseroles Chicken Main Dish Make Ahead

Chicken Casserole D’Iberville

This makes a ton!  Freeze one for later.
2 (3-pound) whole chickens
1 cup water
1 cup dry sherry
2 celery stalks
1 onion, quartered
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
2 (6-ounce) packages long-grain and wild rice mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2(8-ounce) packages sliced mushrooms
1 bunch green onions, chopped (about 1 cup)
1(8-ounce) carton sour cream
1(10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 sleeve round buttery crackers, crushed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 (6-ounce) can French-fried onions, crushed
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Bring first 9 ingredients to a boil in a large Dutch oven; reduce heat, cover, and simmer 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove chicken, reserving broth in Dutch oven. Let chicken cool. Pour broth through a fine wire mesh strainer into an 8-cup liquid measuring cup; discard solids. Cook rice according to package directions, substituting 4 1/4 cups reserved chicken broth for water and omitting butter. (Add water to broth to equal 4 1/4 cups, if necessary.)Skin, bone, and coarsely chop or shred chicken. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; add mushrooms and green onions, and sauté 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in rice, chicken, sour cream, and soup. Spoon mixture into 8 (2-cup) casserole dishes, 8 (5 1/2- x 3 1/2- x 2-inch) mini-loaf pans, 3 (8-inch or 9-inch) square baking dishes, or 1 (4-quart or 15- x 10-inch) casserole dish. Stir together crushed crackers and fried onions. Stir in 1/4 cup melted butter, paprika, and garlic powder. Sprinkle casserole evenly with cracker mixture.  Bake, covered, at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 to 10 more minutes or until bubbly.
To make ahead: Cover casseroles tightly with foil, and freeze unbaked up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Bake as directed. (Casserole may also be baked frozen. Plan to double the baking times.)To microwave one frozen, unbaked 8-inch square casserole: Casserole must be in a microwave-safe dish. Cover dish with wax paper. Microwave at HIGH 15 to 16 minutes or until casserole is bubbly, giving dish a half-turn once. To microwave one thawed, unbaked 8-inch square casserole: Follow directions to microwave a frozen, unbaked casserole, reducing microwave time to 7 to 8 minutes.
Quicker Method: Use 2 deli-roasted chickens (about 2 pounds each) in place of boiled chickens.
12  Servings

Categories
Casseroles Chicken Italian Main Dish Make Ahead

Chicken Bruschetta Casserole

4 cups of Chicken Stove Top stuffing
4 cloves of chopped garlic
2- 14 1/2 oz cans Italian tomatoes diced
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheeses
4-6 chicken beasts skinless/boneless
salt    
Mix the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl.  Put  half of the stuffing  mixture in the bottom of a large casserole. Place salted chicken on top of stuffing. Spoon the remaining mixture on top of the chicken. Bake at 350 for 1 hour , or until chicken reaches 170 degrees on a meat thermometer. Sprinkle with cheese during the last 5 minutes of baking.
Serve with a salad and a bottle of wine!

 4  Servings

Categories
Casseroles Chicken Main Dish Make Ahead Rice

Chicken & Rice Casserole

2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil 
1 medium onion, peeled and diced 
3 cups diced, cooked chicken 
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans green beans, drained and rinsed 
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped 
1 (4-ounce) jar pimentos 
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup 
1 cup mayonnaise 
1 (6-ounce) box long-grain wild rice, cooked according to package directions 
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar 
Pinch salt 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat butter or oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients to bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined. Pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
*Make Ahead instructions:  Prepare casserole, cover and freeze.  Thaw in refrigerator then bake in refrigerator until bubbly.
6  Servings
Categories
Beef Main Dish Make Ahead

Beef Lombardi

1  pound lean ground beef
1  (14 1/2-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
1  (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
2  teaspoons sugar
2  teaspoons salt
1/4  teaspoon pepper
1  (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1  bay leaf
1  (6-ounce) package medium egg noodles
6  green onions, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1  cup sour cream
1  cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1  cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1  cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs
Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes, stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain.Stir in chopped tomatoes and next 4 ingredients; cook 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and bay leaf, and simmer 30 minutes.
Cook egg noodles according to package directions; drain.Stir together cooked egg noodles, chopped green onions, and sour cream until blended.  Place noodle mixture in bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with beef mixture; sprinkle evenly with cheeses.
Bake, covered with aluminum foil, at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover casserole, and bake 5 more minutes.
Garnish, if desired.
Note: Freeze casserole up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed.
To lighten: Substitute low-fat or fat-free sour cream and 2% reduced-fat Cheddar cheese. Reduce amount of cheeses on top to 1/2 cup each.
 6  Servings
Categories
Asparagus Casseroles Ham Main Dish Make Ahead Vegetables

Asparagus and Ham Casserole

Because of the delicate flavors in this dish, we preferred using a mild baked ham to a smoked one. 

1  (1-ounce) slice white bread
3 3/4  cups uncooked extra-broad egg noodles
2 1/2  cups (1 1/2-inch) sliced asparagus
1/4  cup all-purpose flour
1/2  teaspoon dried thyme
1/4  teaspoon salt
1/8  teaspoon black pepper
1  cup whole milk
1  cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1  tablespoon butter
3/4  cup finely chopped onion
1  tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2  cups (1/2-inch) cubed ham (about 8 ounces)
1/4  cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2  tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450°.

Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs form to measure 1/2 cup.

Cook pasta in boiling water 7 minutes, omitting salt and fat. Add asparagus; cook 1 minute. Drain.

Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Place flour, thyme, salt, and pepper in medium bowl; gradually add milk and broth, stirring with a whisk until well-blended. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion; saute 4 minutes. Add milk mixture; cook until thick (about 4 minutes), stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in juice. Combine the pasta mixture, milk mixture, ham, and parsley in large bowl; spoon into a 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cheese.

Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden.

*Could be made ahead and frozen.  Thaw in refrigerator then bake until bubbly and topping is golden.

6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Categories
Beef Casseroles Make Ahead

Make Ahead Southwest Cattle Rancher’s Pie

1/2 lb onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 lb shredded carrot
1/2 lb small mushroom, cleaned and sliced
1 lb ground sirloin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
8 fluid ounces low sodium beef broth
1/3 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons no-salt added tomato paste
vegetable oil cooking spray
 Topping
1 lb russet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
3-4 tablespoons skim milk
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1-2 tablespoon minced pickled jalapeno pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tablespoons minced scallions
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons shredded monterey jack cheese
In a large nonstick skillet, sauté the onion, garlic, carrot, and mushrooms over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are wilted and pan liquids are absorbed, about 6 minutes.
Crumble in the ground sirloin and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is well browned, about 5 minutes.  Drain off any excess fat.  Add the oregano, thyme, cumin, and pepper.  Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir.  Add the beef broth, wine, and tomato paste.  Stir until well combine.
Line a 2-quart casserole with a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil large enough to completely enclose the casserole.  Lightly spray the foil inside the casserole with cooking spray.  Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared casserole.  Set aside while you prepare the topping.  
Place the potatoes in a pot of boiling water to cover.   Reduce the heat and simmer until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 to 20 minutes; drain.  Mash the potatoes, adding sufficient skim milk until the potatoes are fluffy.  Stir in the salt (if using), minced jalapeño chiles, cilantro, and scallion.  Spoon the potato mixture onto the top of the meat mixture, making swirls with the back of a spoon.  Sprinkle with paprika and cheese.
Cover the casserole and freeze until solid.  Lift the food out of the casserole (the foil will adhere), wrap securely in the foil, then slip the package into a self-sealing plastic freezer bag or overwrap in additional foil or freezer paper.  Label with the casserole name and the date.  Use within 3 months.
When ready to bake, unwrap the casserole and place back in the casserole dish to bake.  Defrost completely.
Then bake at 375°F for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and bubbly.   (Since the casserole will be full, it may bubble over, so place a sheet of aluminum foil under the casserole to catch any drips.) Serve hot.

Serves 6

Categories
Casseroles Main Dish Make Ahead Mushrooms Stuffing Turkey

Turkey and Mushroom Casserole

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can sliced mushrooms
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 6-oz can diced chicken or turkey
1/2 cup packaged stuffing mix

Combine 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can sliced mushrooms (drained), 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce in 1 qt baking dish. Add 1 6-oz can diced chicken or turkey. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup packaged stuffing mix for poultry. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until bubbly hot. Or bake in individual serving sized baking dishes for 20 minutes.

Categories
Barbecue Main Dish Make Ahead Pork Pulled Pork

Crockpot Pulled Pork


5 pound pork loin – fat trimmed off
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup molasses
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
dash of allspice
salt and pepper

Grease the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray or use a crockpot liner.
Combine the wet ingredients and pour into the crockpot. Combine the dry ingredients and rub on the outsides of the pork loin. Place the loin in the crockpot and cover with the lid. Cook for at least 4 hours or until the pork pulls apart easily with a fork.
Remove cooked pork to a large bowl or deep sided platter and pull apart using two forks, or your hands if the meat has had time to cool.
Strain the liquids remaining in the crockpot and pour over the pulled pork.
Serve on sandwich rolls or buttered grilled Texas toast.

Categories
Ground Beef Make Ahead Mexican Pasta

Taco Spaghetti

10 ounces dried spaghetti or linguine or fettuccine, broken
2 lbs ground beef or ground turkey
2 large onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups water
1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix
2 (11 ounce) cans corn mixed with chopped peppers, drained
1 1/2 cups Colby-Monterrey Jack cheese or cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup favorite salsa
2 (4 1/2 ounce) cans diced green chili peppers, drained
4 cups lettuce, shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped

Cook pasta according to pkg directions, drain.
Meanwhile, cook ground meat and onion until meat is brown, in a dutch oven.
Drain off fat. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix. Bring to boiling and reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta, corn, 1 cup of the shredded cheese, salsa and chili peppers Divide mix evenly between 2 lightly greased 2 qt casseroles. Package up, label and freeze up to 3 months.

To serve remaining casserole, cover and bake in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Top with lettuce and chopped tomato.
If desired, pass broken tortilla chips and dairy sour cream as additional toppings.

To serve the 2nd casserole, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Bake, covered in a 375F oven for 1 hour or until heated through, stirring once about halfway through baking time. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Serve with 4 cups shredded lettuce and 1 medium tomato, chopped.

12 Servings

Categories
Casseroles Chicken Main Dish Make Ahead Mexican Tortillas

Monterey Tortilla Casseroles

Nonstick spray coating
6 6-inch corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn
1 16-ounce jar salsa verde
3 tablespoons light dairy sour cream
3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup crumbled Mexican chihuahua or farmer cheese (4 ounces)
Light dairy sour cream (optional)
Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)
Chopped tomato (optional)
Jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

Spray four 10- to 12-ounce baking dishes with nonstick coating. Place 5 tortilla wedges in the bottom of each dish. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden. Meanwhile, combine chicken, corn, salsa, the 3 tablespoons sour cream, cilantro, and flour. Divide mixture among dishes.
Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casseroles. Top with cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and tomato. Makes 4 servings.
To bake frozen casseroles: Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Top with tortilla pieces and cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Garnish as above.
To micro-cook frozen casseroles: Cover microwave-safe casseroles with waxed paper; micro-cook on 30% power, allowing 4 minutes for 1 casserole and 5 minutes for 2 casseroles. Continue cooking, covered, on 100% power until heated through, allowing 2 to 4 minutes for 1 casserole or 3 to 6 minutes for 2 casseroles, rotating the dishes once. Top with baked tortilla pieces and cheese; micro-cook, uncovered, about 30 seconds more or until cheese is melted. Garnish as above.
Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble casseroles as directed above, except do not top with baked tortilla pieces; place baked pieces in a moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bag. Freeze casseroles and tortilla pieces up to 1 month.