Now that Halloween has come and gone, it seems like everyone just ignores litle ole Thanksgiving and is all about Christmas. But today I'm here to remind you to not forget about this holiday all about our loved ones and the blessings in our lives, and of course all the food that comes with it.
Thanksgiving is one my favorite holidays because my entire dad's side of the family all gets together, and comes to my house for the feast. And we seriously have the best foods. I could drool just thinking about it all.
One of my favorite side dishes is the broccoli casserole my mom makes. I have to admit that I've been missing out on this deliciousness for the past 22 years of my life because I was too scared to try it. #pickyeaterprobs
But thank the good Lord I did because it's all that you could hope for and more. It's the perfect combination of crunchy, cheesy and creamy. YUM!
It can be difficult to get everything made on Thanksgiving, and ready at the same time. But after years of hosting Thanksgiving at my house, my mom has a secret weapon to get it all done.
Want in on the secret?
My mom always uses Green Giant's frozen broccoli florets.
On Thanksgiving there is so much going on, that any shortcut you can take is the way to go. I like to think of freezing fruits and vegetables as nature's pause button.
Thanks to a recent in-depth study from the University of California-Davis and the Frozen Food Foundation I can feel guilt-free about chowing down on this casserole this year.
The study in a nutshell? After looking at 8 commonly-purchased frozen fruits and vegetables they came to the results that the frozen foods are generally nutritionally equal to their fresh counterparts (and in some cases are better than them). To see more results from the study check out the Frozen Food Foundation Twitter and Frozen Food Foundation Facebook.
Broccoli Casserole. A Thanksgiving side dish you need at your table this year.
What you'll need:
2 - 12oz bags of Green Giant Frozen, Broccoli Florets
2 cups of Cheddar Cheese, shredded
3 tbsp of Butter, melted
1 cup of Mayonnaise
1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups (approx. 1 roll) of Ritz Crackers
What you do:
preheat oven to 350
1. Pour broccoli, cheese, mayonnaise, cream of mushroom soup, and eggs in a mixing bowl. Mix it all together well.
2. Pour into a 9x13, greased pan.
3. Crush the Ritz Crackers in a gallon bag with a spoon. Pour crushed crackers over the broccoli mixture.
4. Melt the butter, and pour over the crackers.
5. Cook on 350 for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
And there you have it, the side dish that needs to grace your Thanksgiving table. Excuse me while I stuff my face.
And there you have it, the side dish that needs to grace your Thanksgiving table. Excuse me while I stuff my face.
And if you aren't sold on the frozen veggies in this dish -- Did you know?
+ Nearly 80 percent of Americans fail to consume the recommended amounts of fruit, with nearly 90 percent failing to meet dietary recommendations for vegetables.
+ Given the increase in the rates of chronic diseases among all age groups, eating a diet rich in a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is more important than ever.
+ A variety of factors may contribute to low consumption, including cost and convenience. A recent study revealed one easy solution: frozen.
I mean seriously, this dish is just contributing towards the healthy body we'll all be working towards come New Year's Eve (never mind the mayo and cheese). ;)
Stay tuned, Thursday I'm sharing another delicious Thanksgiving side dish you don't wanna miss.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Are you a fan of broccoli casserole? Do you use frozen foods in your casseroles?
Say hello to this month's sponsor, Chelsea!
Ok this looks delicious. And I was JUST having this conversation with my mom about whether or not frozen veggies were okay!
ReplyDeleteBroccoli Casserole is one of my favorites as well. Plus, even with all of that other less-healthy stuff in there, I know I'm still getting some kind of vegetable!
ReplyDeleteI love broccoli casserole! I'll have to give your recipe a try!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely should Emily. It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteExactly, any way to get those veggies in your diet is a-okay with me! I can't wait to have more at Thanksgiving this year.
ReplyDeleteCoincidence? I think not! It's totally a sign you should check out the foundation more and then pop this sucker in the oven!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this with the ritz crackers! maybe i'll bring it to a thanksgiving party!!
ReplyDeleteThe ritz crackers add a crunch that really brings together the whole dish. You can't skimp on the crackers!
ReplyDeleteOooh loos very yummy!
ReplyDelete--Me and My Mini Me
www.meandmyminime.com
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays as well. I just LOVE getting together with family, and the food isn't bad either ;) This dish looks SOOOO good, especially with the Ritz crackers crumbled on top! Maybe instead of the ordinary green bean casserole we have every year, we'll make this instead!
ReplyDeleteThis actually sounds great:)
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds delicious! My husband loves green bean casserole on Thanksgiving but this would be a fun twist to try something new. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of green bean casserole as well, but my family never has it at Thanksgiving. Odd. I love trying out new dishes at Thanksgiving, it's the best time to stuff you face with all the different foods. I hope you and your family enjoy this dish, like mine does!
ReplyDeleteTrust me it is.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pretty big fan of the feast that accompanies the Thanksgiving holiday. Plus the entire side of my dad's family comes to visit. Such a great time of year!
ReplyDeleteThe Ritz definitely make this dish, don't skimp on the Ritz!
This. Looks. HEAVENLY! Oh my gosh, yes, give me all the broccoli casserole!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking up with us!
I like green bean casserole better than broccoli [not a fan], but the cheese makes it sound better!
ReplyDeleteI've never had broccoli casserole before but it sounds/looks delicious! Especially when it calls for frozen broccoli... sooo much easier!
ReplyDeleteIt's really good, I was skeptical before trying it out but now I know I've been missing out. Frozen is the perfect way to make your Thanksgiving side dishes easier and less stressful!
ReplyDeleteI love green bean casserole as well, but we never have it at our family Thanksgiving (odd). Definitely try this out; it's sorta like green bean casserole.
ReplyDelete