Saturday, March 21, 2026

HOT REUBEN CASSEROLE

For those of you who don't know, I also write a health blog about how foods and eating affects our health.  I have posted a few times about how sauerkraut is a healthy food.  If you don't like sauerkraut or you are just starting to try it, give this recipe a try.  Sometimes it is easier to learn to like a food when you aren't eating it by itself.

2 cans (10-oz each) chopped sauerkraut, drained
1 lb thinly sliced corned beef, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup Thousand Island salad dressing
1/2 lb thinly sliced Swiss cheese
5 1/2 cups coarsely crumbled rye bread
1/4 cup butter, melted

In a greased 8 x 11 1/2-inch baking dish or pan, layer the sauerkraut, corned beef, dressing, cheese, and breadcrumbs in the order listed.  Drizzle the butter overall.

Bake casserole uncovered in 375-degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the casserole is heated through and the breadcrumbs are lightly browned.


Note:  I first found this recipe in an old Leisure Arts book of foods good for gifting. If you choose to take this casserole to someone for them to bake later, all you need to give them for directions is the last paragraph of baking instructions above.  Thus the 10-minute variation in cooking time.  When making at home for a family meal the 30 minutes should be long enough.  If made ahead and refrigerated, it may take 40 minutes.

Friday, March 20, 2026

CHRISSY'S TANGY SEAFOOD DIP

I have no idea who Chrissy is, (Teigen probably) but I got this recipe from allrecipes a couple years ago. It is supposedly reminiscent of a dip served at Olive Garden several years ago. I don't eat seafood, so I wouldn't know. I do know, however, that many of you love seafood so perhaps you will enjoy this recipe.

1 cup marinara sauce

1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened

4-oz (1 cup) white cheddar cheese, shredded

3/4 cup frozen cooked, peeled, deveined, tail-off shrimp (61-70 count), thawed and coarsely chopped

1 can (6-oz) crabmeat, drained and flaked

2 tsp Old Bay seasoning

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp black pepper

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Desired dippers. such as crostini, crackers, and/or mini bell pepper halves

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. 

Spread marinara in an even layer in bottom of an 8 or 9-inch baking dish.

In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, shrimp, crabmeat, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire and pepper. Spoon the mixture over the marinara and spread into an even layer.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes until the top is a golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley and serve with the desired dippers.

Yield: 8 servings

file photo 




Thursday, March 19, 2026

FRIED CORN AND ONIONS

This is an old recipe from the 1960s.

1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 medium onions, sliced thin
2 12-ounce cans Mexican-style whole kernel corn, drained

Melt butter in skillet.  Add onion; sprinkle with some salt and a dash of pepper.  Cover; cook over low heat 5 minutes, shaking skillet often.  Add the corn; mix.  Heat uncovered 5 minutes, stir often.  Season to taste. Serves 6 to 8.
recipe from this book

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

QUICK AND EASY PEANUT BUTTER & FUDGE PIE FROM KEEBLERS

This recipe is a recipe from a Keebler's magazine ad that I cut out several years ago.  It is a great make-ahead dessert since he has to freeze overnight but only takes a few minutes to make.

 

Click on photo to enlarge for easier reading.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

HEARTY CHICKEN SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

8 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken into 3-inch pieces

3 cups cubed rotisserie chicken

1 can (10 1/4-oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 cup 2% milk

1 med onion, chopped

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup Swiss cheese divided

1 can (4-oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red peppers

3 tbsp mayonnaise

1 1/2 tsp steak seasoning

1/2 tsp dried basil

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine chicken, soup, milk, onion, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, mushrooms, peppers, mayonnaise, steak seasoning and basil.

Drain spaghetti and add to the chicken mixture, toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Cover and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Yield: 6 servings

file photo of this recipe

Friday, March 13, 2026

CREAMY SEAFOOD PASTA

This recipe is from the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest in 2004.

16-oz uncooked linguine

1 can (18.5-oz) Progresso Traditional New England clam chowder

1 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2-lb uncooked deveined peeled large shrimp, tail shells removed

1 package (8-oz) sliced fresh mushrooms

4 medium green onions, chopped

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

In a 5 to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook linguine as directed on package. Drain well and return to the Dutch oven, cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a blender, place clam chowder, milk, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and the garlic. Cover, blend on medium speed until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook shrimp, mushrooms and onion in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until shrimp turn pink.

Stir in pepper flakes and soup mixture; cook until hot. Stir in parsley, salt and pepper.

Pour over cooked linguine in Dutch oven, tossing gently to coat. Top individual servings with shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

file photo

 

Thursday, March 12, 2026

TORTELLINI SALAD

1 lb fresh broccoli florets*
2 cups tightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup diced red bell pepper
2 pkgs (9-oz each) small cheese-filled tortellini, cooked, drained, cooled
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic salt

Steam broccoli until crisp tender.

Steam spinach until just wilted.

In a large bowl combine broccoli, spinach, red pepper and tortellini; toss well.

In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oil, lemon juice, sugar, and garlic salt; blend well.

Pour the dressing over the tortellini and vegetables in the large bowl and toss to coat well.
*May substitute asparagus for broccoli.
Yield 4 servings

file photo

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

LOUISE FRANKS' DEVILED EGGS (from Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait to Get to Heaven)

1 dozen hard-cooked eggs

1 5-oz jar pasteurized Neufchatel cheese spread with olives, or pimiento-flavored

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons minced sweet pickles

2 tablespoons minced sweet onion

1/2 tsp salt

Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Mash yolks; blend with cheese spread and mayonnaise. Stir in remaining ingredients. Fill egg whites. Yield: 3 dozen

clipart photo


Tuesday, March 10, 2026

TROPICAL LAYERED PUDDING

2 packages vanilla pudding mix

3 cups milk

2 regular cans pineapple chunks (drained, saving 1 cup of juice + juice to coat the bananas)

4 bananas, sliced and dipped in the pineapple juice to retain color

1 cup pineapple juice (saved from the pineapple chunks0

1 package vanilla wafers

Prepare pudding as directed using the 3 cups of milk and the 1 cup of pineapple juice as a substitute for the 4th cup of milk. Layer as follows: Vanilla wafers, bananas, pineapple chunks, pudding.

I suggest garnishing the pudding with some vanilla wafers around the edges and/or sprinkling a bit of coconut over the top.

clipart - I do not have a photo of this recipe



Monday, March 9, 2026

S0-SIMPLE LEMONY CHICKEN SOUP

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrot

1 quart chicken broth

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 1/2 cups cooked orzo

1/4 tsp cracked black pepper

2 eggs

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp chopped parsley

Sliced lemon for garnish, optional

Coat a large with nonstick cooking spray. Add the celery and carrot and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 2 minutes.

Stir the chicken, orzo and pepper into the pot and heat through.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs and lemon juice together. While whisking constantly, add broth mixture to the egg mixture. Stir back into pot and add parsley and lemon, if using.

Yield: 4 servings

recipe and photo Woman's World 26