The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever

Book excerpt: 500 casseroles for every occasion—sweet and savory, hearty and light, homey and festive—from beloved James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer Beatrice Ojakangas A good cook once said that a casserole is a blend of inspiration and what’s on hand. Add to that a generous helping of know-how, and you’ve got The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever. Call it a hotdish, covered dish, or casserole—in these pages, you’ll find one-dish meals for every season and any occasion, put together with James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer Beatrice Ojakangas’s customary common sense and uncommon culinary flair. For breakfast, there are make-ahead strata and quiches or last-minute offerings like baked omelets and Eggs Florentine; for lunches and brunches, light fare or full-on midday meals; and for dinner a dizzying array of dishes, meaty or vegetarian, made with fresh ingredients or pantry staples—from Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing to Baked Spaghetti, Southwestern Beans, or Autumn Vegetable Stew. Leave room for dessert, because Ojakangas includes sweet casseroles like Mocha Fudge Pudding and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. And for appetizers and snacks there are dips, spreads, and slathers; mini quiches and omelet squares; and mushrooms au gratin, curried, or stuffed. You’ll even find bread here in casserole form, from sweet Cinnamon Bubble Bread to savory Cornmeal Spoon Bread and tender Sally Lunn. With an ever-reliable and inspired sense of how to create a delicious meal, Ojakangas has advice for both expert and novice about ingredients, equipment, and meals. Combine that with whatever you have in the pantry and fridge, and this cookbook is the perfect guide to everything that a casserole might be.