Broccoli Casserole

Getting ready for the holidays...can you tell?
See Green bean casserole recipe because we'll be doing the same thing here.
The substitutions are;
1. instead of bacon we'll use a can of chopped green chiles
2. Instead of green beans we use broccoli.
3. Add 6 cups cooked rice.
Follow the same instructions, but you will want to transfer everything to a large mixing bowl to incorporate cooked rice and broccoli with the 'gravy' mixture.  Place into medium/large baking dish and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Due to the similar nature of these recipes it is easy to make them simultaneously.

Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients;

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4c. chopped onions
2 cloves garlic chopped
1/2 package bacon chopped
1/4c. finely chopped mushrooms
4 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. flour
1-2 c. milk
1/2-1c. heavy cream
1c. shredded mexican blend cheese
1/2c. shredded parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
4c. green beans
1c. panko bread crumbs

In a  large skillet sweat onions in olive oil.  When translucent, add in chopped bacon, garlic, and mushrooms.  When bacon in mostly cooked, but still soft move mixture to a bowl.  In same skillet melt butter and stir in flour.  Mix flour with butter until incorporated, then add milk and cream.  Stir well until mixture becomes almost as thick as gravy.  Add in salt and pepper.  Stir in onion and bacon mixture.  Add in cheese and stir until just melted.  Mix in green beans and transfer to small/medium butter coated baking dish.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

***This is not one to be reheated as leftovers.  It is best when hot out of the oven.

Updating my list

Remember that list I made at the beginning of the year?  The one where I decided I could try/re-try all sorts of new/old things, setting goals for myself.  Remember how I said I didn't HAVE to do everything on the list, it was just one of those things you do to look forward and have some goals? Well, I haven't done everything.  In fact, I haven't done a lot of those things, but the things I have done have been so rewarding!  In fact, I'm not at all worried that I won't finish my list (I never was), but I am proud to have surpassed some of my goals.  Let's take a look;

1. Hunting; well, we 'hunted' some noisy birds in our yard after many sleepless nights.  But really we just scared them away.  Our cat has hunted enough; she's brought us several snakes, birds, squirrels, and mice.  Oh, and a rabbit. She's always leaving trophies to prove her love.
2. Bra fitting; No money equals no shopping. And besides- I know what size I wear.
3. Pedicure; This never happened.  I just did them myself.
4. Traditional Quilting; I've learned some traditional patterns,but find not following a pattern too perfectly is more my style.
5. Regular Cooking; I now cook at least 4 to 5 times per week with leftovers on the other nights. Have you seen my menu board?
6. Teaching my husband to cook; He literally laughed in my face, but he's gotten more curious about what/how I'm making new things....so it's still possible.
7. Sell a painting; In progress. More later.
8. Lobster; well, I've had lobster in a sushi roll, but not by itself with butter sauce.
9. Water Aerobics; Not going to happen.
10. Gray; This doesn't really bother me much, but a hair dresser (I've been twice in the last year, more times than in the last 10 years combined) asked me how I got paint in my hair...after several minutes and careful inspection at the root he finally believed me that it really was just my hair, and it's silver. There isn't much and usually it stays hidden, but sometimes it catches the light and is really something.
11. Acupuncture; Still waiting to make this happen.
12. Re-trying food; I've tried cabbage, carrots, peas, hominy, olives, stewed tomatoes, and frozen green beans, tomato soup, anchovies, sausage pizza, funyuns(sp?), buffalo chicken, mustard, and other things I've forgotten about . Some I still don't like, but some I do.
13. Quilts; I've completed my goal of 12 in 12 months.  It helps that several of these were baby quilts, but most are twin or full size.
14. Being Creative Daily; I don't have much proof, but I do make lots of little sketches and lists of ideas.
15. Guitar; working on getting one first, then we'll learn.
16. Artistic Encouragement; this is an ongoing thing between me and my mother.
17. Concealed; This is still on the table because I know I won't carry.
18. Camping; My husband's a city boy...and we both love our amenities.
19. Old projects; I'm having too much fun working on new ones.
20. Blog It; Well, I've blogged, but not regularly. I just hate not always having the pictures,and I've been really busy.

And something not on the list; Reading.  I've read 24 new books in less than 12 months.  I have also re-read about 10 old books in that time. To me, this is amazing.  I didn't set out to read that many books.  I just enjoy reading every now and then.  And then, I looked at my 'read books' shelf one day and it was overflowing so I thought I'd count.

What I've been up to

Well, I know you probably think I've run off and am never coming back to the blog, but it isn't true.  I've been on it, writing, posting pictures of treasures; you just can't see them.  I've been quite busy getting things made for the holiday season and since most things are gifts, I don't want to spoil the surprise.  I'll be posting some sneak peaks soon, but get ready because after Christmas you'll see all the wonderful projects exploding through my house. (Our hearth has been covered with packages for weeks-just waiting to be given away)

For now I'll be trying to post some recipes you can enjoy during the holidays.