Say what?
See, I was in the mood for a bit of tuna noodle casserole, butt the only pasta I had on hand was a couple of boxes of those classic blue boxes of Macaroni and Cheese.
Undaunted, I went on Kraft’s website, and they very kindly provided me with, not only a recipe, but also a new, to me at least, way to add the veggies to the casserole that totally worked a treat, and will forever more be the way I wrangle ’em for tuna casserole.
I should also note that the casserole was wicked tasty, and so popular in our house that Rich actually had leftovers for lunch twice!
INGREDIENTS
•2 boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese Dinner
•1 stick butter
•1/2 cup milk
•1 tbsp Sherry Peppers Sauce*
•1 tsp dry mustard
•1 tsp Aleppo pepper
•3/4 cup diced onion
•3/4 cup diced celery
•1/2 cup Sweety Drop Peppers, drained
(or diced red pepper)
•2 cans oil-packed tuna, drained
•1 tsp hot sauce – or, to taste
•1 tsp black pepper
•1 tsp dried parsley
*No Sherry Peppers Sauce? No Problem! Simply add a bit of decent sherry (none of that “cooking” stuff) and a dash or three of your fave hot sauce, to taste.
A note on Sweety Drop Peppers: these tiny, tasty (not at all hot) Peruvian peppers can be found at some really well stocked supermarket olive bars, or through, of course, Amazon.
Whisk the Sherry Peppers Sauce together with the dry mustard and Aleppo pepper in a small bowl and set aside – or – whisk together and then stir into the drained, flaked tuna and set that bowl aside.
Boil the pasta as per the directions on the package, but – and this was the genius, and totally new to me, bit – add the onion, celery, and Sweety Drop (or diced red peppers) to the boiling water for the last three minutes of cooking.
Note: feel free to add 1/2 cup or so of frozen peas as well, if you like.
Drain the pasta and veggies, then add the butter and cheese packets to the warm pan, put the cover on, and let the butter melt.
Stir in the milk until smooth, then add the pasta, veggies, tuna mixture, and hot sauce; and stir until well coated with packaged cheesy goodness.
Give it a taste.
Surprisingly tasty!
But…
I opted to stir in some coarse ground black pepper and dried parsley – feel free to use fresh parsley, if you have it!
All in all, a fine batch o’ tuna casserole!
As for me, I shall me making this again!
Yeh, not for dinner with friends, but as a quick, simple to toss together dinner when I haven’t thought, or had time to plan a “real (for us) ” dinner?
Yeah, youbetcha!