You either love tuna or you don't. For those who don't, get ready for a new love affair as writer Leanne Ely, author of Healthy Foods: An irreverent guide to understanding nutrition and feeding your family well, shares a tuna recipe that will make your mouth water in anticipation!
Love it or loathe it
Say the words "Tuna Casserole" and immediately, you can separate
the oil from the water, so to speak. People reside in two camps:
they either LOVE tuna casserole or they LOATHE it.
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The contest was called "Not Your Mother's Tuna Casserole." The only rule was you couldn't add a can of soup to make your casserole -- anyone who knows me knew that wouldn't have been an issue! And you had to be able to make it quick and easy and could use other convenience foods -- just not canned soup. Otherwise, why would a busy cooking site known for its quick recipes be asking for two hours worth of intense labor to make a casserole?
I made this recipe up one night when the cupboards were looking rather scrawny and I needed to get dinner on the table fast. I was surprised at how good it was and the next time I made it, I tinkered with it a little more until a star was born. When I saw Lynn's contest, I entered it and won first place.
Here's the recipe -- and three years later, I still think it's a winner! Enjoy!
Not Your Mother's Tuna Casserole
Ingredients:
Directions:
Boil water to make boxed mac and cheese. Cook pasta and drain.
In the meantime, chop your onion, open and drain your tuna and get ready to launch into tuna casserole land.
In a medium-sized skillet, melt your measly 1/2 tablespoon of butter. (I'm trying to be good about the butter, but sometimes I slip a little extra in) Now sauté your onion and as it turns clear, add the drained tuna. Then add the milk, butter and sauce packet from the box and cook till it thickens. Schlep everything together except the saltines and cheddar and stick it in a lightly greased casserole dish. Top with saltines and then cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes, give or take, in a preheated 350 degree oven. Serves 4.
Per serving: 216 Calories (kcal); 11g Total Fat; (46% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 19g Carbohydrate; 25mg Cholesterol; 430mg Sodium Food Exchanges: 1 Grain (Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates
If you are like me, you will be a) blown away that something so easy could taste so good b) make it so often everyone eventually begins to groan c) sneak the leftovers for lunch before the kids find out.
Note: Make SURE you only use solid white albacore. That
cheapie stuff smells like cat food when you open the can. If it
smells like cat food ... well ... .
Links, information and more for you
About the author: Leanne Ely, CNC, is the editor of the "Healthy-Foods" newsletter. To join, send an email to: join-healthy-foods@ds.xc.org. Leanne is the author of Healthy Foods: An irreverent guide to understanding nutrition and feeding your family well (Champion Press), available now! For your own, autographed copy, send an email to manicwife@aol.com.
