Wednesday, May 06, 2009

My deepest apologies



Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole
Women’s Circle Cooking with Taste

½ cup chopped onions
½ cup sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups hot cooked rice
2 cups cubed chicken breast
2 cups chopped fresh broccoli (steamed) or 1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli, thawed
1 (10 ¾ ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, condensed
1//2 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese I used about 4 ounces - 2 ounces mixed in and 2 ounces on top

Simmer onions and mushrooms in large skillet with butter until tender. Stir in rice, chicken, broccoli, and soup. Pour into buttered 1 ½ quart baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
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I owe my deepest apologies to the Women's Circle cookbooks that I have been ignoring for years. No, you don't have flashy pictures but you do have great recipes. I am now 2-for-2. First, yesterday's Mexican Meat Loaf was a standout and now this casserole was absolutely delicious.

I had leftover grilled chicken and leftover rice so I went looking for a recipe that would use those items. I almost passed over this casserole since I still needed to buy mushrooms, broccoli, cream of mushroom soup and cheese but I couldn't find anything better so I put it on the menu, not with a lot of excitement I should admit.

Another reason I chose this recipe is that it only used one can of soup. I don't mind using canned soup in a recipe but it's not so inexpensive that I want to be throwing multiple cans in a recipe. Most casseroles I came across called for more than one can. Then, I made this on Sunday for Tuesday and by the time we were about to eat it I was convinced it would be dry and I should have gone with a multiple-can recipe. Not to worry - it wasn't dry (I used the microwave to reheat it). It was also surprisingly good. I wasn't expecting to like it so much but it was yummy. My husband loved it too but my son has been getting pickier and pickier lately. This just wasn't for him.

I feel like I'm on a roll. I've been having lots of recipe success lately. I hope it continues.

Question of the Day: Do you enjoy making something new out of leftovers? I love it.

4 comments:

Kelly said...

That looks so good. I'm going to make it tonight. I don't usually have leftovers to use in recipes. My hubby makes plates and takes them to work for lunch. This one's gonna be a keeper I can tell.

Heather said...

I do feel very accomplished making new things out of leftovers, but most often I just end up eating them for lunch (which is nice for me b/c otherwise who knows what I would end up with).

This looks like a good recipe by the way.

cary's girl said...

I made this last night for my husband - we loved it! Thanks so much for posting this recipe - it was so good.

Ladygwyn said...

This is my first time commenting here.I have been reading your blogs and making a lot of dishes from here when I have no inspiration in the kitchen for over a year now.Making this tonight since it looks yummy and I love broccoli which makes it very appealing to me.
Now about leftovers, I usually have some from our suppers but like other reviewers, they go in my husband's lunch bag and for my lunch at home the next day. But if I do have leftovers (happens more when I have big get togethers at home) I like to incorporate them in other recipes later on. Why waste perfectly good food??? I can't afford to throw money out the window and I think many families must agree with this during these hard times.