Hey Everyone,
I can't take any credit for the title, as it was a Reddit headline that came up while searching for "Worst Rated Casseroles." But this thread is actually inspired by a CC member who was a gourmet cook, and once declared that "casseroles made with canned soups should be outlawed."
I got a kick out of this because I was partially raised on such "abominations", with my favorite being Tater Tot Casserole.
(But please, NO peas. I prefer mine with corn.)
I don't know about other areas of the USA or in other countries, but where I was was raised, the Lutheran church (in which I spent my early life) was famous for entire church recipe books filled to the rims of their baking dishes with pages of such concoctions.
If I wasn't eating a soup-based casserole at home, I was probably eating soup-based casseroles at the latest church gathering.
I understand why serious cooks despise them, but for me, they'll always have an association with "home" and "comfort food." It's even better when they're fixed with love by a busy down-home Mom or Grandma who is just trying to get her family fed.
Now granted, even I have my limitations. I came across an article about various casserole contrivances (particularly from the 1950's and 1960's) and It. Was. Scary. (One word -- GELATIN. Shudder!!!) I also read about exotic versions that include my arch nemesis (peas) because at the time, they were considered expensive delicacies that one would serve to impress their finest guests.
I don't care how fine of a guest a host might think I am, I would have to refuse (and bring my own bagged lunch,) if something like this were to be placed on the table (and for whoever is familiar with this and likes it, I apologize.)
I can't think of a more horrifying combination of foods I don't like (raw tomatoes, peas, hard egg yolks) mixed with foods that might be ok in other settings (shrimp.) And what the heck is holding that entire thing together -- I don't even want to know (gelatin laced with a seafood broth??!!) I wouldn't want to offend my host -- but I wouldn't want to have to run for the bathroom, either. What would YOU do if you sat down to this?
And so, what does our Cuisinally Courageous Community here on CC think about casseroles?
* Are casseroles really a crime of humanity? Why or why not?
* What are some casseroles you love -- and some that you loathe?
* Were you raised on casseroles but have grown up -- leaving them behind? Do you/will you feed them to your own family?
I'm going to write a fun poll (multiple choice with visible answer.) I realize the answers are biased because they're based on my own dislikes .
However, I'm hoping this will give people a good reason to come back to the thread and further discuss such a Controversial Casserole Conundrum!
I can't take any credit for the title, as it was a Reddit headline that came up while searching for "Worst Rated Casseroles." But this thread is actually inspired by a CC member who was a gourmet cook, and once declared that "casseroles made with canned soups should be outlawed."
I got a kick out of this because I was partially raised on such "abominations", with my favorite being Tater Tot Casserole.
(But please, NO peas. I prefer mine with corn.)
I don't know about other areas of the USA or in other countries, but where I was was raised, the Lutheran church (in which I spent my early life) was famous for entire church recipe books filled to the rims of their baking dishes with pages of such concoctions.
If I wasn't eating a soup-based casserole at home, I was probably eating soup-based casseroles at the latest church gathering.
I understand why serious cooks despise them, but for me, they'll always have an association with "home" and "comfort food." It's even better when they're fixed with love by a busy down-home Mom or Grandma who is just trying to get her family fed.
Now granted, even I have my limitations. I came across an article about various casserole contrivances (particularly from the 1950's and 1960's) and It. Was. Scary. (One word -- GELATIN. Shudder!!!) I also read about exotic versions that include my arch nemesis (peas) because at the time, they were considered expensive delicacies that one would serve to impress their finest guests.
I don't care how fine of a guest a host might think I am, I would have to refuse (and bring my own bagged lunch,) if something like this were to be placed on the table (and for whoever is familiar with this and likes it, I apologize.)
I can't think of a more horrifying combination of foods I don't like (raw tomatoes, peas, hard egg yolks) mixed with foods that might be ok in other settings (shrimp.) And what the heck is holding that entire thing together -- I don't even want to know (gelatin laced with a seafood broth??!!) I wouldn't want to offend my host -- but I wouldn't want to have to run for the bathroom, either. What would YOU do if you sat down to this?
And so, what does our Cuisinally Courageous Community here on CC think about casseroles?
* Are casseroles really a crime of humanity? Why or why not?
* What are some casseroles you love -- and some that you loathe?
* Were you raised on casseroles but have grown up -- leaving them behind? Do you/will you feed them to your own family?
I'm going to write a fun poll (multiple choice with visible answer.) I realize the answers are biased because they're based on my own dislikes .
However, I'm hoping this will give people a good reason to come back to the thread and further discuss such a Controversial Casserole Conundrum!
- 2
- 2
- Show all