Basic Casserole Recipe

Do you have leftovers that you don't know what to do with? I have used this method of creative casserole cooking for years and have come up with some delicious dishes. It works every time.

PROTEIN INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1:
2 cups chopped hard-cooked egg
2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
2 cups diced cooked ham
2 cups cooked ground beef
2 cups diced cooked beef or pork
1 lb. fish, cooked, flaked
1 lb. shrimp, cooked
2 (6-8 oz) cans fish or seafood, flaked

STARCH INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1:
2 cups uncooked fancy pasta, cooked
1 cup uncooked long-grain white or brown rice, cooked
3 cups uncooked macaroni shells, cooked
4 cups uncooked wide or narrow egg noodles, cooked

VEGETABLE INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1 OR MORE:
1 (10 oz.) pkg. thawed frozen spinach, broccoli, green beans, Italian beans, green peas
2 cups freshly cooked onion or mushrooms
2 cups diced or sliced fresh zucchini, salted, drained

SAUCE INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1:
2 cups basic white sauce
1 (10 ½ oz) can cream soup mixed with milk to make 2 cups
1 (16 oz) can whole or stewed tomatoes with juice

FLAVOR INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1 OR MORE:
¼ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup sliced black olives
1 – 2 tsp. Mixed dried leaf herbs, basil, thyme, marjoram, tarragon

TOPPING/GARNISHING INGREDIENTS, SELECT 1 OR MORE:
2 Tbs. grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup shredded Swiss, Cheddar, or Monterey Jack cheese (1 oz)
¼ cup buttered bread crumbs
¼-1/2 cup canned onion rings
1 – 2 cups frozen breaded potato balls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 2-1/2 quart casserole dish. Select and prepare a protein ingredient. Select and prepare a starch ingredient, Select and prepare 1 or more vegetable ingredients. Select and prepare a sauce ingredient. Add salt and pepper to taste. Select and prepare 1 or more flavor ingredients.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or in a buttered casserole. Place mixture in casserole. Top with cheese, buttered bread crumbs, onion rings, potatoes or other crisp ingredient, if desired. Bake covered 45 minutes to 1 hour or until heated through. Makes 6 servings.