Sunday, October 02, 2005

Casseroles Redefined

These cozy, fall casseroles, filled with fresh, wholesome ingredients, are easy enough for a weeknight meal. They're quick to throw together plus they don't dirty many dishes.

Black Bean Burrito Bake
Black Bean Burrito Bake
The great thing about this casserole is that it can be prepared in advance then refrigerated. Just bring it back to room temperature before baking - a quick 20 minutes in your oven. Flour tortillas are filled with chipotle chiles, sour cream, black beans and whole kernel corn. Arrange the plump burritos in a baking dish then top with your favorite bottled salsa and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
Easy Greek Chicken Casserole
Having to clean up a mound of pots and pan will have even the most devoted cooks questioning whether or not it's really worth the effort. With this dish, only one pot is needed - all the prep work, baking and serving is done in and out of one pan. Use this Staub Dutch Oven and you'll have a handsome, yellow-enameled cast iron piece to bring to the table. Baked inside is a Greek-style, casserole of garlic chicken thighs, sautéed, herbed potatoes and green beans with a layer of crumbly feta cheese.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Of course you can find a boxed version of this recipe on your grocer's shelves, but skip that altogether - pick up a few extra ingredients and spend just a few minutes more prepping, and you'll have a dish that's noticeably more flavorful. While homemade, it still has its shortcuts - one can of cream of mushroom soup (such as Healthy Choice), frozen green peas, a jar of diced pimiento and two cans of water-packed tuna. The only outlay of work will be dicing the onions and grating the Parmesan - shavings of it plus breadcrumbs add crunch to the top.
Chili and Cheddar Bow Tie Casserole
This casserole calls for farfalle, commonly referred to as bow tie pasta. If you can't find it, substitute ziti, rigatoni or another smaller noodle. The creamy casserole includes minced chipotle chiles and pan-sauteed red bell pepper, diced Canadian bacon and green onions. Spices like chili powder and cumin and fresh cilantro add an exotic lift. Spoon into a baking dish, top with shredded cheddar then bake for 15 minutes.

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