Casseroles take center stage when it comes to warm comforting foods. Baked in the oven these types of meals can consist of a variety of meats, vegetables and even fruits. Use leftovers, staples found in the cabinets, pantry and refrigerator to make a meal that can be frozen and reheated when time is short. There’s nothing like a good casserole on a cold winter night.

Where Casseroles Come From

Casseroles were derived from France where they were called “saucepans” originally. These casseroles were simple meals made with rice combined with cheap meats or types of sweetbread to save money. The casseroles we know today began in the late 1800’s.

In the early 1950’s when casserole cookware became a rage the casserole became a major part of the American kitchen. Easy to fix and quick to arrive on the table the cookware made it easy to make a meal in one dish, place it in the oven and still elegantly served right to the table. Often times a casserole will be referred to as a bake. This type of casserole is well known in Great Britain.

Why Are Casseroles Such a Hit?

Its 6:00 and you just arrived home from work. The kids are home and your husband is wondering what you’re fixing for supper. Cooking is not necessarily at the top of your ‘things I’d love to be doing right now’ list, but your family has to eat, right? You begin looking around the kitchen and discover there’s a little of this and a little of that in the refrigerator and cabinets. Throw it all together in a dish, bake it and you’ll soon have a nice meal to place on the table.

Casseroles are the perfect main dish. They usually contain meat and vegetables of some type, so adding a lot of extras to the meal is not necessary. A salad or bowl of fruit, along with bread and you’ve got yourself a full meal to serve.

Convenience also comes into play with casseroles. Many of us like to make our meals for the week ahead of time. Casseroles freeze well and are easy to reheat. Just pull them out of the freezer and place them in a preheated oven. In an hour or so you have a meal fit for the entire family.

Not only are casseroles quick and easy, but they save time and money. Many casseroles are made from leftovers. Add a can of creamed soup and sprinkle bread crumbs over the top. You just can’t beat all the advantages a casserole has to offer.

Creating a Casserole

Most casseroles include meat and vegetables although they can be made with fruits as well. Add in pasta, cheese, condensed soups, chopped hard boil egg and top them with a nice bread crumb topping. Tuna casserole, vegetable casseroles, chicken casseroles, beef casseroles and mixed fruit casseroles are just a few ways of preparing a delicious meal.

Always use a dish that is the right size for the ingredients. If a dish is too big the moisture will evaporate leaving the casserole dry. If it’s too small the casserole will bubble over. A casserole dish that is too deep produces uncooked foods where a casserole dish that is too shallow will cause the ingredients to be overcooked. Casserole dishes today come in numerous shapes and sizes, not to mention the colors and designs. With all the types of casseroles dishes available it becomes easy to find ones that will go from oven to table without worry.

Casseroles may have taken a back stage to fast food, microwave and ready to serve meals, but in reality they may be one of the best ideas for our times. They also make great pot luck dinner items and can be made to feed a large crowd very easily. Take a look in your fridge and cabinets and see what you can find to make a casserole for dinner tonight.