Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Family Favorite Comfort Food -- Easy and Delicious

I am planning to open the "doors" of Long Leaf Academy tomorrow after our homeschool group's kickoff tonight.  Our annual potluck meeting is always a great time to find out what will be going on in the new school season and we'll also get a chance to fellowship with friends.  I'm looking forward to seeing some old faces and meeting some new folks that I've talked to on the telephone recently.  I just know it's going to be a great year.
Last year, I found a great new recipe on Pinterest that quickly became a family favorite. (I actually "pinned" it twice so that just lets you know how much I liked it.)   My college girl loved it and requested it just about every time she came home from school.  Because of its popularity here, I thought it would be the perfect dish to take tonight as it is delicious.  I scrolled through today and had a bit of a panic when I realized it.is.GONE.  Aaagghh . . .
So, I'm relying on my memory (scary) and cooking it up anyway.  I thought I'd share it here so that I can keep it forever and you can try it as well.  Good eats, I tell you.  Good eats. 
Hot out of the oven


Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
3 chicken breasts (I use boneless, skinless), boiled in salted water and shredded.  (Now, I'm sure you could use a whole chicken here, but I don't even know how to cut one up so . . . )
1 package (9 oz.) deli-style honey ham, chopped  (I use whichever brand is cheapest.  Today it's Hillshire Farm but I've used the generic brand with great success as well.)
1 package (7 oz.) Swiss cheese slices  (I'm using Pauly brand today because it was the best price, but the generic brand was perfect last time.)
10 Tablespoons margarine, divided
4 Tablespoons self-rising flour
3 1/4 cups milk
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 T. mustard (mixed with a pinch of brown sugar, just because)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs (again, generic works well)
3/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 1/2 teaspoons parsley
Spray 9 x 13 casserole dish with non-stick spray for easy cleanup.  I use Canola spray.  Layer shredded chicken, chopped ham, and sliced cheese in dish.
Melt 4 T. margarine in sauce pan.  Stir in self-rising flour to make a roux.  Slowly add milk and stir until sauce thickens.  Add lemon juice, mustard, salt, paprika, and white pepper.  Pour mixture over the cheese slices making sure to get some of this yummy sauce everywhere.  You want it to go to the very edge of the pan so that it can get all the way to the chicken.
Melt remaining 6 T. margarine in sauce pan and add the Panko bread crumbs, seasoning salt, and parsley.  Sprinkle this topping over the entire casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. 
This makes a beautiful dish to eat and/or share and it tastes wonderful.  I serve it with rolls and salad at home.  Enjoy.

I was last in line so there was not much left.

It must have been okay, because this is what was left when I unzipped my casserole carrier.

I'm linking up with my friend Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos.  Hop on over and try a new recipe today.

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1 comment:

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your heart with me!