The Blonde Diaries

Side Dish Edition: Holiday Recipes: Old and New

The holidays are my favorite time of year because I can throw my diet out the window and eat whatever I feel like.  Most of the time it also means eating family favorite recipes that I normally don’t have during the “regular” time of the year.  One of my favorite recipes is my aunts version of Broccoli Rice Casserole.  It can be lightened up to a more healthy version with brown rice and skim milk but its the holidays so we won’t do that today ;)  This year my mother picked up a new holiday-party friendly recipe that is similar to the Broccoli Rice Casserole but it adds Cauliflower and takes away the rice.  Its probably more friendly to those on low carb diets.  It was also very tasty and I will be looking forward to this recipe next year.

Broccoli Rice Casserole

1 package frozen broccoli

1/2 cup rice (cooked)

1 can cheddar cheese soup

salt & pepper to taste

milk as desired (probably 1/2 a cup.  Just enough to clean out bottom of soup can)

Combine & Cook in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.  Very tasty with turkey, ham, roast beef, any holiday meal.

Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole

1 1/2 cauliflowers

4 bunches of broccoli

1 can cream of mushroom/celery/broccoli/chicken soup

1 garlic cheese link

1 can french onion rings

Boil broccoli & cauliflower until cooked yet still firm.  Drain well in colander.

Place broccoli and cauliflower in casserole dish and top with french onion rings

In a saucepan, mix 1 can soup with 1 garlic cheese link until melted (For larger casserole do 2 cans soup and 2 links cheese).  When cheese is completely melted into soup pour over casserole.  Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.