6 Things to Consider when Giving a Cassarole as a Gift

The cold weather is here... and what gift could be more wonderful or thoughtful than a casserole? With the cold weather comes sickness and a casserole can be the perfect way to show someone you are thinking of them when they aren't feeling well.Casseroles range from comfort foods to fun new combinations. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when presenting one as a gift:

1. Make sure to consider any food allergies and preferences before making a dish. You should also consider dietary restrictions if they are on medication.
   
2. Check to see what other friends are bringing so that they have some variety.
   
3. Use a disposable pan so they won't have to worry about remembering who's dish it is and returning it. It will also save them time with dishes.
   
4. Include cooking instructions. A lot of people forget to do this simple task.
   
5. Do not overcook foods that are going into the casserole because when you reheat the dish you don't want everything to be over cooked.
   
6. Don't be afraid to go the extra mile and include side dishes or a nice dessert. During rough times these small acts of kindness can really help.

Now for the fun part, I've included some great casserole recipes for you to try!

Chicken Tetrazzini

1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti, broken into pieces
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp sherry
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in chicken broth and cream.
4. Return to heat, and bring to a low boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add sherry, then stir in cooked spaghetti, mushrooms, and chicken. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish, and top with Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned.

Shepherd's Pie

5 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 (15 ounce) can mixed vegetables
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook potatoes in boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, reserving some of the cooking liquid. Mash potatoes with a little of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet, cook ground beef until brown over medium-high heat. Drain fat from pan. Stir in mushrooms, mixed vegetables, mushroom soup, celery soup, and salt and pepper; heat through. Pour into prepared baking dish, cover with mashed potatoes, and dot with butter.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden and beef and vegetable mixture is hot and bubbly.

Ratatouille

2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dried parsley
1 eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
salt to taste
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 zucchini, sliced
1 large onion, sliced into rings
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 green bell pepper, sliced
2 large tomatoes, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat bottom and sides of a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
2. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until lightly browned. Mix in parsley and eggplant. Saute until eggplant is soft, about 10 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
3. Spread eggplant mixture evenly across bottom of prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Spread zucchini in an even layer over top. Lightly salt and sprinkle with a little more cheese. Continue layering in this fashion, with onion, mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes, covering each layer with a sprinkling of salt and cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.