Veggie Casserole

I finally finished a book I could not put down so all is back to normal...well my normal. Now don't go thinking it was a great literary novel...just a good old spy novel...

Anyway back to my real life ... which today is veggie casserole. Forget the hamburger helper... this is real.

Cut an assortment of veggies, whatever is in your fridge. If all you have are mushrooms well then this would be a mushroom casserole. I sauteed the veggies in about a teaspoon of butter and 2 tablespoons or so of water, you can use more butter, which will taste better but I have a cholesterol problem...

Cook some pasta according to the directions on the package, I cooked about two cups of bow tie pasta in lots of well salted water.

While the pasta is cooking and the veggies are cooking make a bachamel sauce...I know fancy right? Well it's really just a white sauce, which is substituted for condensed soup. Homemade without the can and it tastes much better.

I made the sauce by melting 2 tablespoons for butter, then I added two tablespoons of flour, over low heat, I cooked that for a few minutes, then added 2 cups of milk, some salt, pepper, and a dash of nutmeg. Stir constantly, bring to a boil, the sauce should be like gravy, if it resembles wallpaper paste add some more milk.

OK, so now you have your bachamel sauce, oh sorry I forgot I added about 2 oz of shredded cheddar to mine and some dried basil, you don't have to but I had it on hand. You have your cooked veggies and you have your cooked pasta, al dente and drained. Just put it all together and pour it all into a casserole dish, top with parmesean cheese or any type of cheese...I didn't use too much, again the cholesterol thing...

Bake at 350F until bubbly...

I made enough for 4, add some buns and a salad and you have a delicious and thrifty dinner, of course there are only two of us but I can't seem to cook for just two...

This is a simple basic casserole, want to make it tuna casserole? Add tuna. Chicken casserole? Add some cooked chicken. There are no rules so make it whatever you want it to be...