#CountryCrockCasserole Post #3-Thanksgiving Giveaway

Thanksgiving is on everyone's mind these days. It's getting so close! Most of us are starting to food shop for the holiday meal, or are already in the process of.  Like any holiday meal prep, Thanksgiving can be hectic.  Wouldn't it be nice to create a crowd-pleasing dish that takes minimal time to make?

Country Crock buttery spread has 70% less saturated fat than butter and 30% more fewer calories. The spread contains 30 calories per serving and comes in many different flavors.  This is a guilt free spread that will liven up your foods and make your taste buds sing.  What I love most about Country Crock is that there are so many uses for the spread, why not experiment with a new way today? How about using it in a casserole dish that will become a family favorite, or on fabulous freshly baked bread? Whatever way you use Country Crock, I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

This is my last and final kit as a member of the Country Crock Casserole Club.  This time, I was sent a kit that revolved around Thanksgiving. The kit contained panko bread crumbs and a Wusthof chef's knife.  A recipe card was provided for me that I was to make my own.  The initial recipe was a Thanksgiving family fave veggie casserole.  It included ingredients such as chopped onions, mixed veggies, cheese, and panko bread crumbs.  I am not a fan of onions so I knew right away that I didn't want to include those in the recipe.  Since there was no meat in the initial recipe, I felt that it wasn't a very hearty Fall meal. With just veggies in it, it seemed like more of a side dish than anything else.  To take it from a side dish to a main entrée, you need to include more of a substantial, filling ingredient. 

I thought about what I wanted to include in the recipe and I ventured off to the store.  I purchased ground beef, shredded cheese, corn, lots of broccoli, and shredded carrots.  I then got to work that evening preparing the casserole.  Casseroles are something that I make a lot of.  They are very easy to make, incorporate items everyone loves, and take little time.  My husband usually eats practically the entire casserole dish too.  What more could I ask for? I cooked and drained the entire pack of ground beef, while I chopped the broccoli. Since it's just my husband and I, I cut the recipe in half and used only four cups of mixed veggies.  Next, I assembled the ground beef into the casserole dish and poured in the veggies.  Then, I added about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and corn.  I mixed everything together and then topped generously with the provided panko bread crumbs.  I absolutely love panko bread crumbs.  They have a bigger crunch than just regular bread crumbs and they bring a lot of texture to a dish.  I popped the dish into the oven and baked it for 25 minutes.

Thanksgiving, here we come!

What I like most about this dish is how colorful it is.  The corn, carrots, and broccoli really look beautiful together.  I also love how healthy it is since so many veggies are incorporated.  The ground beef truly ties everything together and kicks the heartiness up a notch.  I think the cheese also adds a nice hint of sharp cheddar flavor to everything as well.  You can't forget the satisfying crunch provided by the panko bread crumbs.  One of the reasons why I've really enjoyed being a Country Crock Casserole member is that I get to create many dishes that I would have never previously thought of.  It's always fun to experiment and make new meals.  My husband and I really enjoyed the dish and he requested that I make it again soon!

Moms everywhere will enjoy a quick meal that takes practically no time to make at all.  I think from prep to being on the table was about 30 minutes.  You can't beat that! Another good idea would be to take Thanksgiving leftovers and create a casserole from them.  It makes leftovers a little more fun for children as it's not just the same thing they had for dinner the previous night.  Happy cooking!

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