Back by special request, we are bringing you our latest contest installment: CASSEROLES. You love them, they’re easy, they usually contain some wonderful form of cheese. What’s not to like? But after awhile, you do end up running out of ideas and it’d be great to get new ones to reinvigorate the ol’ repertoire. We only have a few weeks left of winter so why not celebrate the end with homey goodness? Conversely, what better way to celebrate spring with one made with new vegetables?
SO, bring it on. We’d like to know your best, most innovative recipes. For this contest we are taking only casseroles that are invented by you. dear reader, because we want everyone to see and experience your creativity. And, to help spur that creativity, we’re gonna give you a budget of $20US (furreiners, please help with conversion). Hopefully that’ll get your taste buds going for some nice, luxurious ingredients. Try adding seafood and cream to that cheese. Anyone Fedex-ing me something with that description automatically gets a good word from me to the judges. Ok, just kidding. Ok, maybe not. Maybe just kidding (kinda).
As a baseline, we will define “casserole” as:
casserole
This term refers to both a baking dish and the ingredients it contains. Casserole cookery is extremely convenient because the ingredients are cooked and served in the same dish. A “casserole dish” usually refers to a deep, round, ovenproof container with handles and a tight-fitting lid. It can be glass, metal, ceramic or any other heatproof material. A casserole’s ingredients can include meat, vegetables, beans, rice and anything else that might seem appropriate. Often a topping such as cheese or bread crumbs is added for texture and flavor.
© Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER’S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.
As always, we request the recipe, the budget amount and a picture of your dish so that we know that you made it and as a guideline to the final product. We have our beautiful and extremely knowledgeable judges LaunieK and GTCosita ready to see what you can come up with! Contest ends Sunday, March 11th at 11:59 PM PST / OZ Melbourne time: March 12th 7:00 pm. Please post your recipes in the comment section this article.
And our basics list of how to figure in the stuff you might already have on hand.
Oil – free
Salt & pepper – free
Flour – 25¢, 1 cup
Butter – 40¢, a stick
Potatoes – 25¢ each
Onions – 25¢ each
Rice – 10¢, a cup
Pasta – 10¢, a cup
Fresh garlic – 25¢, a head
“Fancy” grains and pastas:
quinoa, couscous, pearl couscous etc. – 15¢, a cupDried herbs:
basil, oregano, bay leaves – freeDried spices:
garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, paprika – free“Fancy” herbs and spices:
smoked paprika, fennel seed, coriander etc. – 5¢ per teaspoonchicken, vegetable stock – 25¢ a cup
Previously, many of you have asked very good questions about including various items like turtles, wine and the like. I’d use market and retail pricing for things like that. If you’re really unsure of your item, take the price of the item, divide a serving size into it, and figure out how many servings you have used. We aren’t going to be too scientific about it because the goal of the contest is to have fun and be creative!
OK GO!!!
Photos by Launie K.
