Casseroles - The Perfect Comfort Food!

What is it about comfort food?

We all need a bit of comfort food when we're cold, tired, stressed, down in the dumps and good old home cooking fits the bill every time. In times gone by, a casserole would consist of any food that was available, cuts of meat, whatever vegetables were in season and in colder countries potatoes were always included in the cooking pot because, as they take longer to digest they keep the body warmer for longer.

Meat Casseroles

There is NOTHING easier to cook than a casserole, basically, you just throw everything into the cooking pot and season!

The word "casserole" actually originates from the French term for the deep, oven-ready dish it is cooked in. Although this type of meal is now popular throughout the world, it was not publicized until the 18th century, when the term was printed in an English cookbook.

Casserole recipes come in many different forms and you have many choices available to you and these days many casserole recipes have low fat ingredients as a matter of course. One of the most popular casserole recipes are green bean casseroles. The green bean casserole is a kind of vegetable dish that offers a lot of flavor and is perfect either as a side dish or a full vegetarian casserole option. The tuna casserole is a modern classic that never goes out of style. This inexpensive dish typically consists of a cream base, with tuna, of course. Some people like to add rice to their meal while others prefer the traditional pasta version.

Either way, these casserole recipes are winners each and every time. The traditional meat-and-potatoes person might prefer something meatier. Shepherd's pie is among the most popular casserole recipes and you might be surprised to discover that this dish was traditionally made with lamb and not with beef as is most common today.

There are few meals that have stood the test of time. Casserole recipes are always popular at a family get-together. As well as being perfect for large gatherings or special occasions they are so easy to make that they are also suitable for every day meals, especially traditional comfort food casseroles such as a Tater Tot Casserole.

Once prepared, casseroles are easy to transport or store and most recipes can be frozen for up to two months without losing their flavor or nutritional value. To prepare for future meals, another good idea is to freeze the casserole prior to baking it and then all you have to do is to defrost it and pop it in the oven when you are ready.

I always make really large cooked casseroles because they are so easy to reheat by simply returning them to an oven on a low temperature.

Our particular family favourite is a Mexican enchilada casserole that is guaranteed to put the 'Fiesta Feel' into your cooking!

Casseroles - The Perfect Comfort Food!

Alex Dalgettty is an active NLP practitioner, hypnotherapist and 12 handicap golfer.

She is a successful writer on topics concerning the mental side of the golf game and has many articles posted on journals, websites, blogs and article directories.

She is currently rediscovering her love of cooking by developing recipe blogs and sharing celebrity chef recipes using video instruction and photos.

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