Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Broccoli Cheese-y Casserole #recipe for Thanksgiving


From Daryl aka Avery

IT'S THANKSGIVING WEEK on Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

I'm so thankful for all of you, our MLK foodie fans, that I'm offering a giveaway below! Check it out.

Also, I am so thankful for all my buddies on Mystery Lovers Kitchen! We have been so blessed over the years with good companionship.


I don't know if you have purchased everything from the store or whether you have a set menu and don't intend to vary from it, but if you haven't and you don't, think about the casserole. If you have (and do), then consider it for Christmas.

Granted, it's not pretty.  LOL Is there any way to make a pretty casserole?? I mean, c'mon. Stuff clings to the sides. But isn't that the fun? It sure is for the person who's cleaning up. Sometimes the remains are the best parts of a casserole. Get a spoon. Lick. Yep. Gooey, cheese-y fun! And when you put a casserole portion on a plate, it oozes out on all sides. Only in cooking magazines and cookbooks do you see a "perfect" picture. Don't despair. Pretty doesn't matter. Taste does. And this is tasty!

In fact, this is one of my new favorite dishes that I'll make throughout the year. I adore Gouda cheese. I hope you do, too. For those who can't get Gouda, I'll bet you could use Monterey Jack cheese in its place. In fact, I'm going to test that and report back.

May this Thanksgiving bring you good times with family or friends or, if you're on your own, a wonderful private time with a good book or a good movie!


Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Ingredients:

(serves 6)

1 pound broccoli
2 cups sweet onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup milk
3-5 tablespoons cream cheese
1/2 cup Gouda cheese (shredded)
2 more tablespoons butter

3/4 cup dry gluten-free rice cereal, crushed

Directions:

In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to boil. Add chopped broccoli and sliced onions. Cook 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.





In another large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, stir in cornstarch (or potato flour), minced garlic, salt, and a dash of pepper.

Add half and half and milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.



Add cream cheese; cook and stir 1-2 minutes then stir in broccoli and onions. (I skipped this step and combined the two right in the casserole dish.)



Put in 2-1/2 quart casserole dish. Top with Gouda cheese.



Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and toss with rice cereal crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole.

Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes.


So...what are you thankful for?

Giveaway: IF YOU POST THIS ON FACEBOOK, TWEET IT, or PIN IT ON YOUR PINTEREST PAGE, and let me know in a comment HERE, you'll be entered to win your choice of either a Cheese Shop Mystery (4 choices) or A Cookbook Nook Mystery (1 choice, Final Sentence). I'll announce the winner next Wednesday. Remember to add your email in your comment, or send me your email to avery at averyaames dot com. Good luck!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, Krista Davis, Lucy Burdette, Julie Hyzy and I are having a contest on Facebook. It's fun with lots of ways to win. We're giving away a fabulous gift basket from Salt & Pepper books (you know, the store that inspired the Cookbook Nook mysteries) as well as our books. And we might even sweeten the deal in weeks to come. Runs to the middle of December. So check it out. Click on the picture for the link!



******************


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Next up: 
Days of Wine and Roquefort Feb 2014, preorder here
Inherit the Word March 2014, preorder here

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29 comments:

  1. this sounds fabulous Daryl! And how did you cook that chicken--it looks amazing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lucy, glad you like it all. that's one of my roast chickens. I put it whole into a clay bake pot (think that's what it's called), cover with spices (your choice), add a half cup of water to the pot. Cover and baked slowly at 300 for one hour. Remove the top and bake at 400 until it's deep brown. It falls off the bone.

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  2. Another good way to cook broccoli. By the way, Daryl, I found some gluten-free panko crumbs at my local Kroger store, in the health food aisle. Do you think that would work as well as the cereal?

    I posted this recipe on my Facebook page. kmaslowski at fuse dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Karen, I'm sure GF panko works the same. I didn't know they made that!! Good to know.

      Thanks for posting. You're entered. :)

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
    2. Thank you! And have a happy Thanksgiving, MLK authors!

      Delete
  3. This looks yummy! Too bad I already bought the green beans. But this would go very well with our Christmas dinner tenderloin, sauteed mushrooms and scalloped potatoes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Peg, this will also work for any other occasion or just regular dinner. But it's going to be a hit tomorrow. :)

      Happy happy!

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  4. This looks warming and yummy. I shared it on FaceBook
    Happy Thanksgiving to you all

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Libby. It's definitely that. Thanks for sharing! You're entered. :)

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. You just have to love brocoli and cheese. There is no better vegetable combo in the world, and they only get better when combined in a casserole. Thank you for this tasty Thanksgiving treat, and may you and your family have the very best holiday.

    PS I have retweeted your fun giveaway, but don't enter me in the contest because I already have your wonderful books.

    ~ Cleo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cleo! May you and yours have a great holiday as well. Hopefully during the Christmas holiday I can carve out the time to read all the wonderful MLK author books that are stacking up on my bedside table! I'm way behind, but you all know I love your characters!

      Hugs,
      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  8. I am doing this tonight! It's a snow day here and that's special enough for me. You can almost taste that photo!

    My hubby doesn't mind cleaning casseroles. He'll be grateful for this! Thanks, Daryl.

    XOX

    MJ

    XO

    MJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MJ, LOL! He doesn't mind cleaning casseroles. Me either. :)

      Enjoy.

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  9. Enter me to win. Looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
    dbahn@iw.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dianne, be glad to. Did you put it on FB, pinterest or Twitter? Just for fun?

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  10. Posted on Pinterest for all my friends to see, can't go wrong with a broccoli cheese recipe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, nice. As I said, casseroles aren't very "pretty" but they are yummy!
      You're entered.

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  11. What a delightful and cozy recipe. Just ideal for tonight. Many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot )com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Traveler, a cozy recipe. Yep. Right out of A Cheese Shop Mystery, right? I'm definitely going to have Charlotte make it in the book I'm writing. Why not? It's using the right cheese: Gouda! Give it a shout out, will you? :)

    Daryl / Avery

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  13. This sounds wonderful. I happen to be out of gouda so I will have to wait until the weekend to try this.

    I pinned it on my Salads, Veggies, & Sides board on Pinterest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janet, this will wait until the weekend. Or even next week. It's a year-round good meal! Enjoy. Thanks for pinning.

      You're entered

      Daryl / Avery

      Delete
  14. This looks awesome! My family loves Gouda but I have never tasted it. Going to try this out it looks so good! Also pinned it in Pinterest.
    karosenoff@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gouda is one of those creamy semi-hard cheeses that melts in your mouth! You're entered.

      Daryl /Avery

      Delete
  15. I learned to love Gouda when we were in the Netherlands. Gouda (pronounced How-da) comes from a city in The Netherlands - although the name is not protected so Gouda cheese is also made elsewhere.

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  16. forgot to say: Pinned it. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/355291858074553647/

    ReplyDelete