Comfy Food!!!

It has been an unusually cold few days in New York.  While everything is green, blooming and beautiful, this cold streak has left us chilled, wet and reaching for warm blankies at night.  Where I had my air conditioner running a week ago, I'm now standing in front of the oven while its on for extra heat!  Crazy weather!  This type of weather makes me want things to comfort and warm myself from within.  Hot tea is nice and all, but not really fulfilling.  So yesterday while I was cooking chicken, I made extra for a casserole today for lunch.

My grandfather was a great cook.  He made the best cherry pie in the whole world.  It even won a few awards at the Fourth of July festival!  My grandmother specialized (in my mind) in making the best sweet tea and Buckeye candies at Christmas.  However, in between the candy and pies, they made this creamy, chickeny, buttery cracker topped  casserole that was to die for good.  The kind of casserole that makes you feel all fuzzy and loved inside.  It was one of my favorites that they used to make.  My grandfather gave me the recipe once a VERY long time when I was in my late teen and I had lost it over time.  They both passed away before I could get the recipe again.  And one day, when I was thinking about them and some of my favorite memories, I remembered this casserole and I so longed to have the recipe again.  Miraculously, a few days later, I had a dream and when I woke up, I remember the recipe.  I woke up, scribbled it down, made it and it was EXACTLY the way I remembered it from my childhood.  True story!

It has since become one of my husband's favorite meals.  When he was at basic Army training, this was one of the meals he requests for when he came home.  He missed it that much!  So anyways, please enjoy this simple, super cheap and easy recipe from my family.  Even picky wee ones can't resist the Campbell's chicken noodle soup flavor or the crispy buttery crackers on top.  Serve it over mashed potatoes to make a full meal or use it as a side dish...we've done both!

<-- do you see the noodles, the shredded chicken and the buttery crackers?  Ugh...I wanna lick my monitor!





 Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole

• 5 slices White Bread
• 1 whole Sleeve Of Ritz Type Butter Crackers
• 2 cans Chicken Noodle Soup
• 1 can Cream Of Chicken Soup
• 1 cup Pre-cooked Chicken, Chunked Up (optional)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter Pats
• 1 dash Salt/pepper To Taste

Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Trim the edges off the bread slices. Cut bread into small cubes and place in a mixing bowl. Crush the sleeve of butter crackers and add ¾ of the crushed crackers to the bowl.  Add the soups to the bread and cracker mixture and stir easy to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Add cooked chicken, if using.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and sprinkle with remaining crushed crackers. Add butter pats on top. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill overnight or at least 6 hours.

Cook at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until bubbly.