by spendlove Moderator 19 May 2014

On another forum I visit (music orientated), there is an interesting discussion about casseroles. (Musicians are very fond of their stomachs.) I thought some of you would like to add to the accumulated knowledge.

Here in UK, the word has two meanings. The first is "a lidded, ovenproof, cooking dish" (from the French). The second meaning is the food cooked in that dish. This is usually a slow cooked meat dish with a rich sauce. (In my house the meat is replaced with beans.)
Over to you.......

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by graceandham 22 May 2014

Yes, musicians love their tummys. It is always easy for us to recruit an orchestra for our two big concerts at church (Christmas and Star Spangled Spectacular) because the whole choir brings covered dishes to feed us at rehearsal breaks and no other church cooks as well! I say just as an army rolls on its stomach, so does a choir.

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spendlove by spendlove 23 May 2014

Correct!

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by mumzyfarm 22 May 2014

In the wintertime we have lots of stews cooked in the slow cooker. I put all different kinds of meat "not a lot" just for taste and a lot of vegetables. I put it in the crock pot to cook before I go to bed at night, on low, and it is ready to eat with rice when we get ready the next day. In the summertime we eat lots of sandwiches, chicken salad, tuna salad and sometime BLTs that way we don't heat up the house cooking. I have also made the pulled pork in the slow cooker it is wonderful. My family runs off their stomach. A casserole for us is green bean casserole which is made for holidays and squash casserole which I like to make when our garden comes in. I love sweet potato casserole also. Oh my goodness I am getting hungry and I had a big lunch of chicken salad sandwiches with fresh from the garden lettuce so food shouldn't be on my mind. Hugs Mumzyfarm

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mumzyfarm by mumzyfarm 22 May 2014

Forgot to mention I also have a pressure cooker which I cook fresh green beans in and add just a teaspoon of salad vinegar. The vinegar gives the beans a tart fresh taste that I like I also put 2 slices of bacon seasoning them with just a touch of garlic salt and mrs dashes original seasoning.

spendlove by spendlove 23 May 2014

I am intrigued by the green bean casserole.

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by lori2 22 May 2014

slow cookers are great to make "pulled pork"

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chenille by chenille 22 May 2014

Yes they are!!

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by eggyannie 21 May 2014

I have a metal dutch oven on the hob in my little motor home. I love it as it gives me a perfect roast every time and when i do roast veg on the hob in it they taste just great. Folk have been known to stop and sniff the air to find the source of the delicious aroma in the middle of a field.
Its a bit like a casserole dish but with a deep lid so a whole chicken can be roasted in it.
Winter time it will hold a huge amount of onions that simply melt down and when spices and beans are added to the mix it makes a very hearty meal when served with hot garlic bread

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spendlove by spendlove 22 May 2014

That beany recipe sounds wonderful!

Leaha by Leaha 22 May 2014

This sounds yummy! :)

chenille by chenille 22 May 2014

My mouth is starting to water!

Leaha by Leaha 22 May 2014

Will you share please?

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by baydreamer 20 May 2014

I don't have a slow cooker but just love my pressure cooker, it is the best investment I have made in a long time. I don't make a lot of casseroles but one of my favorites is . I have included a link to one of the many recipes on the web,

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baydreamer by baydreamer 20 May 2014

http://southern.food.com/recipe/c...

I tried the campbelsoup and it broken sorry, I have listed another recipe

spendlove by spendlove 20 May 2014

Thanks. That is a really interesting recipe, but here it would be called a "bake" not a "casserole".

Leaha by Leaha 20 May 2014

May I ask what the difference in ' a bake' and 'a casserole' is? If they are both make in a covered dish inside an oven... :)

spendlove by spendlove 22 May 2014

Here, a casserole is more like a stew. A bake is drier and often has some kind of topping.

Leaha by Leaha 22 May 2014

Thank you for giving me something new to learn today. This is really a concise way to categorize things and I like it, never really gave it much thought. Cool :))

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by asterixsew Moderator 20 May 2014

Cant think of anything to add to this interesting topic from you Sue. I do know that its ages since I uses my slow cooker and really don't know where it is. Slow cooked food is delicious. I have some of my late mothers pyrex casserole dishes as well as my own cast iron ones.

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spendlove by spendlove 20 May 2014

I've never tried a slow cooker, but I was tempted to buy one to make rice pudding in!

rosakent by rosakent 20 May 2014

Rice pud is good in a slow cooker but has no skin on it, for me that's the best part, all nice a nutmeggy, Jo

spendlove by spendlove 22 May 2014

That is exactly why I didn't buy the slow cooker!

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by cfidl 20 May 2014

Did I miss the recipes? I am always up for a new casserole!

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by Leaha 20 May 2014

Absolutely love casseroles...lidded dishes and the insides. In the mid-west we have them as well as slow cookers. Winter time favs, as well as working women's necessity. I used mine regularly when I worked. All types of meat, lasagne, spaghetti, soups etc. Pork chops and dressing. Turkey breasts, even cakes and cobblers. Yummy. :)

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by Janus48 19 May 2014

I am in the Northeast of the US and here we have various casserole dishes in various shapes and sizes in metal and glass with and without lids, We bake casseroles in these casserole dishes. They are meaty and meatless, with noodles or rice and/or all sorts of veggies and sauces. Our churches and community groups have fund raisers printing cookbooks of all their recipes. Which leads me to this....perhaps WE cuties could start a thread of our own favorite casseroles from wherever you are??

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spendlove by spendlove 20 May 2014

Why not add your favourite recipe here?

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by airyfairy 19 May 2014

Winter is approaching fast here in SA so I will be getting out my slow cooker and cooking casseroles for the chilly evenings. I mainly use beef and chicken - lots of onions and vegetables - delicious.

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spendlove by spendlove 19 May 2014

UK style - why am I not surprised!?

PatriciaVosloo by PatriciaVosloo 19 May 2014

Sarah and Sue, have you tried lamb shanks in your slow cooker? Add also sprigs of mint to the cooker. My discerning son rated me a 10 for my presentation! Praise from Caesar ...

jrob by jrob 19 May 2014

Patricia, indeed!

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by pennifold 19 May 2014

Hi Sue,

Yes, Trev and I have Casserole meals quite frequently during the colder days. My favourites are either beef, chicken or lamb like Meg has recommended.

I also make Spaghetti Bolognaise, Mornays, Chicken sate, etc. etc. in my favourite Casserole dishes. Definitely here in Australia they are known as comfort foods. Love Chris

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spendlove by spendlove 19 May 2014

Thanks.

chenille by chenille 22 May 2014

Sounds like the same dishes I like to do here in Canada. Definitely comfort food!

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by meganne 19 May 2014

To the best of my knowledge, here in Aus Casserole is the same as in England, a lidded ovenproof dish, which is usually Corningware or Pyrex, either round, oval, rectangular or square, AND it also refers to the food cooked in the dish.
My favourite casserole starts out with cubed beef or lamb, which is rolled in seasoned flour then browned in hot oil in the casserole dish on the stove top. Liquid stock and vegetables are added to the meat, then a lid is placed on the dish which is then placed in a slow oven to cook.
A real comfort food with many possible variations to the final result depending on the seasonings, meat and vegetables chosen each time.
hugs, Meg

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spendlove by spendlove 19 May 2014

That is the same as here - I think the difference is in USA.

rescuer by rescuer edited 19 May 2014

We have Casserole meaning a lidded oven-proof dish and we also have Casserole the food that is cooked in that dish. I know some do not use the lid -- but all the recipes I use call for using a lid. If only to prevent the sauce from going all over the oven -- I use a lid.
It may be just the wild and rebellious side of the States that go lid-less. ;)

meganne by meganne 20 May 2014

LOL!!! Lorie you gave me visions of the JETS dancing in the streets with lidless casseroles in their hands. real rebels :-)

spendlove by spendlove 20 May 2014

LOL from me too - going lidless sounds very risque!

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by jrob Moderator 19 May 2014

Here in the south it is cooked in a dish, but not necessarily lidded. Sometimes there is a lid and sometimes not. I have dozens of casserole dishes as it is our tradition when someone is sick or there is a death in the family, food (generally a casserole) is taken to the home for the mourners. Most of my casserole recipes are loaded with calories. I guess that makes them comfort food.

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spendlove by spendlove 19 May 2014

That is certainly something they have in common!

diamondfowler by diamondfowler 20 May 2014

I live in the south and. we take over food for the sick or the lost of a loved one, but I keep loosing my dishes and so I etched my last name in the bottom of my dish so the people know where to return it I keep getting my dishes back

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by lilylady 19 May 2014

In Minnesota, it is a hotdish, we are famous for them. One of the most famous is wild rice, native to Minnesota. You can do hamburger, cream of mushroom soup and veggies and wild rice. love them all.

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spendlove by spendlove 19 May 2014

Is it cooked in a dish with a lid?

lilylady by lilylady 19 May 2014

yes, then baked in the oven.

chenille by chenille 22 May 2014

We love the wild rice casseroles here too. ( B.C. Canada) When I have a dinner party I usually have a wild rice casserole as a side. This is a great make ahead dish too!

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