Saturday, August 22, 2015

Old-Time Tuna Noodle Casserole

Prep time: 30 min.     
Cook time: 20 min.
Yeild: 6 servings  (1-1/3 cup each) 
All pantry ingredients, except for frozen peas

 1    cup dried macaroni noodles or egg noodles
 1 ½  cup frozen peas, or a 15 oz can peas
1    (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
 1     (12 oz) can evaporated milk , or 1 ½ cup prepared dry milk
 1     tablespoon dehydrated onion
½    teaspoon salt, add more to taste
 2     (6 oz) cans tuna drained, flaked
1 ½  cup corn flakes, crushed

Step 1:  Place noodles and frozen peas in a pot of boiling water.  Cook noodles and peas to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain; rinse in hot water.  Set aside.

Step 2:  Meanwhile, heat oven to 350˚F.  In ungreased 9x9 casserole dish, combine soup, milk, onion, tuna and salt.  Add cooked noodles and peas. Mix well, then taste test!

Step 3:  Top casserole with crushed corn flakes.  Bake uncovered for 25-30 min. Remove when bubbly.


Double the recipe for a 9x13 pan.

"SPANISH RICE ...LIKE FROM A RESTAURANT!"


Rice is a food staple and is easy on queasy tummies
Requires no perishable ingredients
from Cooks.com

2 cups white rice
4 cups water
2 tablespoon Knorr tomato bouillon *
4 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil



Heat the butter or oil in a skillet on medium heat. When hot, add rice to skillet and let get nice and toasty not burnt, have water ready and just as the rice starts giving off a toasted smell add the water to the pan.

It will sizzle; as it's sizzling, add the tablespoon of tomato bouillon to the skillet and stir. 

Cover with a lid and let cook on MED heat, just like you would normally, about 20 minutes.

That is all there is to it, very simple and very easy. You could also add about a 1/4 cup of diced up carrots, corn or green beans if you choose to do so, while the rice is cooking.

*Tomato bouillon can sometimes be found in the ethnic aisle of your local supermarket. If you can't find it there, then try a Mexican market. They should have it.

This is the way to make Spanish rice just like from a Mexican restaurant. I got this recipe from my Latin friend after helping with countless barbecues and parties. This is the way her family has made it for years

Kid-Friendly Red Enchiladas

                All pantry ingredients!

1 can 8 oz. tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 t. chicken bouillon
1 T.  chili powder, if you want spicy add an extra 1 Tbsp
1 t. cumin
½ t. onion powder
¼ t. garlic powder
 12 corn tortillas, half fried in oven
Shredded cheese for topping

Options for filling, some vegetarian:
3/4 lb shredded cheese - cheddar or monterey jack
½ lb shredded cheese and re-fried beans
½ lb shredded Cheese and Fried eggs (broken yolk, salt, pepper, 1 or 2 layers)
½ lb shredded cheese and ½ lb ground beef
½ lb shredded cheese and ½ lb shredded beef, chicken, or pork


COMBINE: In med sauce pan, combine tomato sauce, water, bouillon, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder

SIMMER the sauce for about 10 min.

HALF-FRY tortillas: Brush one side of each corn tortilla lightly with oil. Place 12 tortillas flat in 350° oven, oil side up, for 2 min.  Remove from oven to a plate. Let cool.

ASSEMBLE enchiladas: Place a little sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Then place 3 half-fried tortillas flat.  Cover tortillas with spoonfuls sauce. Sprinkle cheese and other filling,  a little spoonful of sauce on top.  Place 3 more tortillas. Sauce. Cheese and filling. Sauce. Continue pattern.  Top with all leftover sauce then cheese. Bake 350° oven until cheese is melted, 15-20 min
SERVE: Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and sour cream. Consider possible side dishes of Spanish rice, re-fried beans, or a 15 oz can black beans reheated



Lazy man enchiladas - Make individual servings in the microwave. Use a glass plate or glass pie pan.  Cover enchiladas while in microwave. Cook 2 min or until cheese is melted.