Casseroles/Main Dishes

Karen Zach

"Best Dope Ever"

This is a passed-down recipe from the wife of a cousin, (Maxine Parker) whom we would not have known had it not been for doing genealogy. After you try it, you, too, will say, "It pays to know your family!" Ha!

Brown in Skillet:

1 1/2 # Ground Beef
2 small Onions
1 Small Green Pepper

Cook 1 pkg. medium noodles in salted Water.
Drain when tender

Add 1 can Mushrooms (stems & pieces) - salt & pepper to Noodles.

Mix above ingredients together -- place in casseroles and cover with 2 cans mushroom soup.

Put slices of Velveeta cheese on top.

Cover and bake one half hour, at 350 degrees.

Uncover the last 15 minutes to brown.

"Broccoli Casserole"

Our family had a restaurant (Zach's) in Crawfordsville for many years. Thelma Davis, one of our favorite customers gave me this recipe.

20-oz., 1 pkg. Broccoli, frozen
1 C. minute rice, cooked
1 Can mushroom Soup (1 1/2 C.)
1/2 C. Chopped Celery (optional)
1/2 C. Minced Onions
3/4 Jar Cheese Whip

Cook broccoli in salted water.

Mix all ingredients.

Put in a greased covered casserole.

Bake until it bubbles (about 20 minutes) at 350 degrees.

Top with buttered crumbs or crumbled potato chips.

Brown uncovered.

"Margaret's Casserole"

Margaret McKinney, our right-hand woman for many years at the restaurant I mentioned above gave me this recipe.

1 C. Water
1 C. Macaroni
1 Pkg. Dry Beef
1 C. Milk
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/4 C. Diced Cheese

Mix together -- do not cook macaroni -- let stand in refrigerator overnight.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour.

"Chicken Strata"

My fantastic mother-in-law, Joan Zach gave me this recipe. It's SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

8 slices day old white bread
2 C. Diced Cooked chicken (or turkey)
1/2 C. Chopped Onions AND Green Pepper
1/2 C. Fineley Chopped Celery
1/2 C. Mayonnaise (real)
3/4 tsp. Salt
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 1/4 C. Milk
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 C. Shredded Sharp Process American Cheese

Butter 2 slices bread.

Cut in 1/2" cubes and set aside.

Cut remaining bread in 1" cubes.

Place half of unbuttered cubes in bottom of 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish.

Combine chicken, vegetables, mayonnaise and seasongins.

Spoon over bread crumbs.

Sprinkle remaining unbuttered cubes over chicken.

Combine eggs and milk. Pour over all.

Cover and chill 1 hour or overnight.

Spoon soup over top.

Sprinkle with buttered cubes.

Bake in slow oven at 325 degrees for 50 minutes or until set.

Sprinkle cheese over top last few minutes of baking.  

Thrice Baked "Chinese Casserole"

If I remember the story right, Jim's cousin, a daughter of Fay and Maxine Parker created this recipe for the State Fair and was the Champion. I don't particulary like Chinese, but this is GOOD!!!!!!

Stir together and very lightly brown:

1 # Ground Beef
1 med. onion, chopped
1 C. Celery, chopped

Mix in:

1/2 C. Uncooked Rice
1 Can Mixed Chinese Vegetables
2 T. Soy Sauce
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup

Add no more seasonings.

Bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees in a covered pan.

Uncover and bake 30 more minutes.

Cover with Chinese noodles

Bake 15 more minutes.

"Dried Beef Casserole"

Although I'm not really sure where I got this recipe, it was probably from my mother, because she was the Dried Beef Queen. What creativity!

1 Large Pkg. Dried Beef
1, 8-oz. (2 C.) Creamettes
2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 Cans of Milk
1 Small Onion, chopped
1 Small Can Pimento
4 Hard Boiled Eggs
1/2 # Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated

In a greased baking dish, mix soup and milk.
Add other ingredients.
Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.
Take out 1 hour before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

"Ham Balls"

I think I got this recipe from my mother-in-law, but for sure, as a child, it was probably my daughter, Suzie's favorite meal.

1# Fresh Ground Pork
1 # Fresh Ground Ham
1 C. Bread Crumbs
1 Egg
1/2 C. Milk

mix together and form balls.

Mix:

1/2 C. Brown Sugar, mixed with 1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 C. Vinegar.

Pour over balls.

Bake 375 degrees for 1 hour -- baste a few times. Serves between 4 and 6.

"One-Skillet Meat Ball Meal"

Again, I'm not sure where I got this recipe, either, but I like it!

Meatballs:

1 # Ground Beef
1/2 C. Uncooked Rice
1 Small Onion, chopped Fine
1 tsp. salt

Combine and roll into meatballs. Brown in Skillet. Using 3 T. Bacon Drippings.

Add:
2 1/2 C. Water

Cover and cook for 30 minutes over a low heat.

Add:
2 C. Canned tomatoes
3 Med. Potatoes (cut)
2 tsp. Salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. Pepper.

Cook slowly until potatoes are done.

"Turkey Crunch Casserole"

Who only knows, but IT IS REALLY GOOD!!!!

Turkey Mixture:

3 C. Cooked Diced Turkey
2 hard-boiled Eggs, chopped
1 T. Chopped Onion
1, 4-oz. can Mushrooms

Then add:
3/4 C. Mayonnaise
3/4 Soup can Milk
10-oz. can Mushroom Soup

Then toss in:
1 C. Diced Celery
1/2 C. Almonds

Add to top:
Chow Mein Noodles

Mix together ingredients -- add soup, milk and mayo. Toss with turkey mixture. Put in 2-qt. casserole. Sprinkle with noodles. Bake 350 degrees 30 minutes. Can use chicken. 

"Turkey Casserole"

I got this, oh, about 1975, at a Morgan Reunion from Betty Morgan Devitt. It's been one of my favorite recipes since then.

2 C. Turkey cut in small pieces
2 cans Green Beans (Drained)
1 Can Cream Chicken Soup
1 Can Cream Mushroom Soup
1 Small Onion, cooked in 2 or 3 T. Oleo -- cook until brown.

Add:

1 small can Mushrooms
Dilute soups with 1 C. Milk.

Heat to boiling and add green beans, turkey and small can of pimento, if desired.

Prepare 1 C. Rice per recipe on box (Uncle Ben's converted rice works best). Put in bottom of casserole and pour turkey mixture on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

"Taco Casserole"

I like this one because you can fix it in the microwave.

1# Hamburger
1 Can Refried Beans
1 Pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 Can Tomato Sauce
Cheddar cheese or Taco Cheese
Taco or Tortilla Chips

Brown hamburger, drain. Mix hamburger, refried beans and tomato sauce and seasoning. Place chips in bottom of 9 x 13 pan, put hamburger mixture over chips. Microwave until heated through. Put cheese and more chips on top. Microwave until cheese is melted. Put lettuce and tomatoes on top and add taco sauce or sour cream to serve.