Cooking Lesson #538: Thanksgiving Day Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

…from the Perspectives’ Holiday Kitchen 

How you doin’? There are so many great legacy foods I like to serve for Thanksgiving Dinner. This fresh broccoli casserole is a family favorite (at least my family) for holidays and get-togethers. So why did I bypass the predictable string bean casserole?
 
When I was going to cooking school the first 6 weeks in Paris were centered on making recipes only with green beans. We cut them, minced them, baked them, steamed them, sautéed them—anything you could do with this vegetable we were tasked to do. After 6 long  weeks at least 50% of the students quit out of frustration, which, by the way, was the reason for the exercise… to reduce the number of students.  And sorry, but no refunds. So, I came up with this recipe so I wouldn’t have to taste another green bean dish.
 
My Thanksgiving Day Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is an inexpensive recipe you are going to want to pass down to your family for years to come because it's so cheesy and delicious!
 
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Yield:  10-12 servings
 
Ingredients 
4 heads fresh broccoli, chopped
3/4 cup shredded mild cheddar
3/4 cup pepper-jack cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (I prefer Campbell’s Soup)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups crushed, seasoned croutons or turkey bread stuffing mix
 
Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350⁰ F.
2. Butter or spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
3. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
4. Cook the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain, and set aside.
5. In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the 2 cheeses, cream of mushroom soup (do not add water), and salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted.
6. Add the broccoli, stirring to coat. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
7. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Mix in the croutons, and sprinkle over the broccoli mixture.
8. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the topping is browned and the broccoli is tender, but not mushy.

ChefSecret: Be careful not to overcook which will make the broccoli a bit stodgy.

Quip of the Day:  A doctor walked into an exam room to see a patient with carrots sticking out of his ears and broccoli up his nose. The doctor said: “I can tell right away that you haven’t been eating properly.”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross. 

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