Cheesy Broccoli Casserole: by Paula Deene

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh broccoli, trimmed and cut up
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the casserole
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 pound cheese product, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup grated Cheddar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch casserole.

Steam the broccoli until tender, about 10 minutes. In the meantime, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat and saute the celery, mushrooms, and onion until softened, about 10 minutes; drain. Combine the broccoli and the cooked vegetables in a bowl.

Heat the soup and softened cheese product in a saucepan over low heat until the cheese melts. Pour it over the broccoli mixture. Add the garlic salt and pepper and combine.

Put it into the buttered casserole dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle the top with the grated Cheddar the last 5 minutes of baking.

This was okay. I don't know that I would repeat it. I am just not a big fan of creamy/cheesy vegetables. I was trying it hoping that Michael would enjoy it, but it wasn't his favorite either.

Green Beans with Bacon, Onion and Tomato

A recipe from Betty Crocker's Cook Book

Ingredients

1 lb Green beans

4 slices Bacon (cut up)

1 Medium onion, chopped

1 Medium tomato, chopped

1 clove Garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon Chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Dash of pepper

2 tablespoons Lemon juice

Preparation

1. Place beans in 1 inch water in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Immediately rinse with cold water; drain.

2. in 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 1 tablespoon fat in skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels.

3. Cook onion in bacon fat in skillet over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in tomato, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Stir in beans; heat through. Drizzle with lemon juice. Garnish with bacon.