Paula Deen’s Broccoli Casserole

Here’s another recipe I discovered during the Food Network Thanksgiving shows a few years ago. During the show where Paula makes this casserole, she says it’s not Thanksgiving unless it’s on the table (original here).

Ingredients

  • 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar
  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups crushed crackers
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, mayonnaise, cheese, soup and eggs.
  4. Mix well with a metal spoon.
  5. Place the mixture in the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top with the crushed crackers and pour the melted butter evenly over the crackers.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes or until set and browned.

Variations

  • We’ve also tried this recipe with Cream of Chicken & Mushroom soup and with Cheddar Cheese soup to vary the taste.
  • Add some chopped chicken or turkey for a main dish.

Thanksgiving Classroom Discussion: The Meaning of Thanksgiving

TurkeysStill looking for that last-minute classroom activity to keep the class occupied before the Thanksgiving break? Mark Twain’s newly released autobiography includes a comment on the meaning of Thanksgiving that is bound to lead to a lively classroom discussion.

Begin the classroom discussion by asking students to brainstorm or freewrite about the meaning of Thanksgiving. To help focus their comments, you might first ask them to reflect on what Thanksgiving means to them by sharing some of their personal experiences.

Next, ask them the talk about the cultural and social messages related to the holiday. It’s likely you can arrange their shared responses into a handful of categories like family, tradition, patriotism, thankfulness, and shopping.

Once students have recorded their ideas on the meaning of Thanksgiving, turn to Twain. The New York Times published some Excerpts From the ‘Autobiography of Mark Twain’, (found via Chris Boese on Facebook) that included this vitriolic rant “On the Meaning of Thanksgiving”:

Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for – annually, not oftener – if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man’s side, consequently on the Lord’s side, consequently it was proper to thank the Lord for it.

Twain’s syntax is a little complex, so you might start by breaking down that passage and unpacking the words. Ask students to look in particular at the word choice Twain is using to establish his opinion on the meaning of Thanksgiving:

  • It’s a function, rather than a holiday or celebration
  • The pilgrims are “those people.”
  • The function marks “exterminating their neighbors.”

There’s no whitewashing in Twain’s account of Thanksgiving! Those are some tough words, and Twain’s meaning is very clear.

Have students think about the religious and cultural references in the quotation, and challenge them to think about how Twain’s personal experiences may have influenced his opinion. Have students compare Twain’s comments to the ideas they brainstormed at the beginning of the activity, and encourage class discussion of the accuracy of Twain’s statement. Are there ways that Twain’s take on the meaning of Thanksgiving could be seen as accurate?

As an extension, ask students to adopt Twain’s structure and tone and apply it to Black Friday or Cyber Monday. What would Twain say was the meaning of those commercial events?

 

[Photo: Turkeys by Hey Paul, on Flickr]

Easy Cheesy Chicken Divan

Looking for an easy, go-to comfort food? This casserole will do the trick. Easily prepared from ingredients I usually have in the pantry, this satisfying dish always sees family going back for seconds.

Ingredients

  • 2 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
  • 2 16 oz. cans chicken breast, drained
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 pkg. (12.5 oz.) frozen broccoli florets
  • 1 cup frozen sliced carrots
  • 2 cans (10-3/4 oz.) cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 º F.
  2. Spray 13 x 9″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  3. Combine broccoli and carrots in a bowl, and microwave 6 minutes (until thawed and slightly warm).
  4. Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
  5. Saute onion on medium heat till tender.
  6. Add drained chicken to the skillet.
  7. Stir in cream of chicken soup, and allow to simmer.
  8. Prepare stuffing according to directions on the package.
  9. Add cooked broccoli and carrots to chicken mixture in skillet. Stir together.
  10. Spoon prepared stuffing to the skillet and stir together until well mixed.
  11. Transfer to 13 x 9″ baking dish.
  12. Bake 40 min.
  13. Remove from oven and top with shredded Cheddar cheese.
  14. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Allow to stand 5 minutes before serving.

Variations

  • Substitute cream of chicken and mushroom soup or cream of mushroom soup, if desired.
  • If you have no broccoli, try cauliflower. The end result will not be quite as colorful, but still makes everyone happy.
  • After Thanksgiving, create your own variation with leftover turkey and stuffing.

Time Required: 60 mins

Servings: 6–8

Rating: 5 stars (★★★★★)