Casserole for Neighborhood Block Party

[Princess Tink]

Looking for a casserole for our Neighborhood Block Party. We are new to the neighborhood, just moved in last week and haven't done this before....so, I'm looking for guidance.

The real problem is that my DS9 has a football game 45 minutes away that night.....probaly won't get home until 6-7PM and the party starts at 5PM. Wouldn't ya know, we lucked out and got picked to make a casserole......it was decided by your street, we couldn't have gotten the easy one (dessert or chips). So now I'm looking for something I can out in a crockpot and not worry about. Any ideas? I thought I'd cheat and make a pot of chili, but DH says 'that's not a casserole'. My original plan was a Hashbrown Casserole, but I'm not sure that would work considering we have to leave the house by 2 pm and won't be back for 4-5 hrs. HELP!!!

TIA,
Micaela

 

[DaDisneyMomma]

WoooHooooooooo!!! I just happen to be makin this right now lol...It's Brocolli Casserole!! Here goes!!

Ingredients...
1 Stick Butter
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup w/1 can HOT water
1 Bag Minute Rice
1/2 cup onions
8 Slices pinched off lil pieces American Cheese
3 Stalks chopped celery
1 Reg Bag Frozen Chopped Brocolli
1 Box Stove Top Stuffing


Preheat oven to 350...

Put frozen brocolli in a drainer and run HOT water over...let drain...
Boil 1 Bag Rice...let drain...
In a bowl-stir butter...cooked rice...celery...onion...soup...and water...then-add brocolli and cheese pieces...Bake in a 13x9 pan for 40 minutes uncovered...Cook dressing as directed...After the 40 minutes...Take prepared dressing and sprinkle over making sure it's even and to the ends...Bake another 20 minutes!!

Note:You can prepare and cook the first 40 minutes and let cool...Put in fridge overnight and bake the additional 20 minutes the next evening right before the party!!!

Hope this turns out as good for you as it does me!!!

 

[piratesmate]

Since you're so new to the neighborhood you probably don't have anyone to ask if the crockpot chili is okay, do you? Around here, being assigned a casserole is just a euphemism for "This is part of the main course & needs to include meat, but still be easy to eat & serve." Crockpot chili definitely qualifies for our events. Another option is Taco Salad - although that's not truly a casserole either. But you could do everything ahead & then just add the dressing & toss then top with the chips as you walk out the door. I'll put that recipe below.

However, one thing I'm not quite clear about. If this party starts at 5 and you don't expect to be home until 6 or 7, I'd think most people will already be finished with the "meal" portion by that time. If there really isn't someone you can ask, I'd be sorely tempted to just bring a dessert when you show up...since that's all you'll be eating anyway. I'm sure people would understand that.

Taco Salad
1 lb ground meat
¾ c water
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 head lettuce
2 c kidney beans
1 - 2 c Cheddar, grated
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 - 2 c carrots, grated (opt)
½ bottle French dressing
taco chips, crushed
Prepare meat as for tacos with water & seasoning; chill. Toss with lettuce, beans, cheese, tomatoes, carrots & half the chips. Pour dressing over all & mix. Top with remaining chips. (Use plain chips or Doritos, but it's better with the Doritos. LOL)

 

[MazdaUK]

I agree with the dessert idea!

Otherwise I'd do beef in red wine - only 5 ingredients (plus seasoning etc from the cupboard)!

Braised Beef with red wine and cranberry (serves 4)
1kg braising steak, cubed
2 tbsp flour
2-3 tbsp oil
3 onions, thinly sliced
300ml red wine
300ml beef stock
Bayleaf and fresh thyme
3 rounded tbsp cranberry sauce
Salt and black pepper
Fresh flatleaf parsley, chopped (optional)

1. Tip flour and seasoning into a large freezer bag, add beef and toss well until coated in the flour.
2. Heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan and fry beef quickly in batches until browned, removing to a plate as done.
3. Heat another tbsp oil in the pan if necessary and fry the onions quickly for 5 mins until tinged brown. Return beef to pan, add wine and stock. Bring to boil, stirring to scrape up juices. Add herbs and seasoning if required (probably not needed if using a stock cube).
4. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 1½ hours until the beef is tender. Stir in cranberry sauce and check seasoning. Simmer for a further 5 minutes and serve topped with fresh parsley with plenty of mashed potato.

Even better made a couple of days ahead and reheated, or frozen until required.

 

[Princess Tink]

I ended up on the Crock Pot Sticky......and ran to the grocery store last night for the fixin's for Ham & Cheesy Pototes in a Crock Pot. Seems fairly simple, I think I can handle it. I wish I would have waited a couple hours, you ladies had some great ideas. I'm definately going to try these recipes.....it's football season here in KC, and I'm thinking these might be good for tailgating ecspecially on a cold day!

 

[MazdaUK]

The beef is very "good tempered" - get it good and hot and put it in a thermos pot and you'll be fine. You could even boil some baby new potatoes and throw them right in the thermos as well

ETA Over here, tailgating is driving too close to the car in front! I had to think about what you meant

 

[Princess Tink]

Hahaha.....we have that kind of tailgating too, but I'm not too much a fan of it!