Tuna Casserole

Author: Killis Haraway

Ingredients:

1/2 C chopped celery
1/2 C chopped/diced onions
8 Oz sliced mushrooms
1/3 Stick butter
1/4 C cream cheese
2 Tbs fresh sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cans white albacore tuna in oil
1 1/4 C whole milk
1 Lbs wide egg noodles (try to find the long wide egg noodles Amish style are good)
2 C sliced mild cheddar cheese
2 C sliced mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

First prepare and organize all your ingredients. Chop your celery and onion and have all your ingredients ready to go! Next make sure you start your water in a medium size stock pot and heat to boiling. In a 10-12 inch sauce pan (mine is shaped like a Wok) add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and sauté until soft (4-5 minutes). Add the mushrooms and continue to stir and cook for another 5 minutes or so until well incorporated. Drain your tuna and add to the mixture. Add the milk and stir all together. Add the sour cream, cream cheese and cream of mushroom soup. Continue to cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally (be sure to lower heat as necessary). The mixture should appear fairly thick. Once your water is boiling add the noodles and cook as directed (I always cook for 3-4 minutes less than package directions as the noodles will continue to cook once all mixed up and baked). Once the noodles are cooked, drain. In a large bowl (like a popcorn bowl) add about 1 C cheddar cheese and dump the noodles on top. Add the 2nd C of cheddar cheese and pour the mushroom/tuna mixture on top. Gently fold the ingredients together and mix well. In a greased casserole dish pour the mixture and spread out evenly across the dish. Add the mozzarella cheese on top and bake in a 350F oven for about 20-30 minutes or so. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tip: This recipe works really well if made a couple hours in advance. This allows the ingredients to combine really well before the baking process.

Alternative toppings: Many folks like to top the casserole with potato chips, French fried onions or bread crumbs. (I personally like cheese melted on top).

Note: You will find many tuna noodle recipes out there and I have made quite a few variations of this recipe. This particular version is tried and true and will not disappoint. (Serves 4-6 roughly)

Serve with asparagus, green beans or English peas.