Lose a uterus, get a casserole......

I made my mom's famous "Chef's Casserole" the other night. I love it when people say that...I am making my famous this or famous that...who in the world but them thinks it's famous? Anyway, to me, her casserole is famous. As I was sweating the onions, ok, I just wanted to say that (food network) it really has no bearing on the story. I did however want to give a shout out to her years of yummy cooking.

Comfort food is important in the South. It is sort of a name recognition game you can play, shout out a southern woman's name and you can immediately identify her most famous dish. Try it, seriously.

I remember an old devotional book mom had while I was growing up called "A Plate of Hot Toast". The stories in it were cute and sweet, but mostly I think she used that book to make memories. I was blessed to have a stay at home mom most of my life, but even when she went to work when I was in my teens and my sisters were young, she was always sure she was home when they got home from school with something good to eat for a snack. If not, a whatchmacallit candy bar and a coke at the store was always fun.

Another thing southern women do is that we always bring food when someone has had surgery. The larger the organ removed the larger the meal. For example, a measly appendectomy may get you a plate of cookies, while a gallbladder may rate a red velvet cake. A hysterectomy will always at least get you a spaghetti pie from me and if they took your ovaries, I'll throw in a side salad. I've never had to cook for a liver transplant, I imagine that would take all week! I have also learned over the years to use disposable containers, because trust me, you will never get them back.

Here's my Mom's "famous" Chef's Casserole recipe, enjoy!!


1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 onion, diced garlic to taste
1 T. oil
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
2 T. milk
1 pkg. wide egg noodles
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Brown garlic, onion and beef in oil and drain. Boil noodles and drain. Mix all ingredients together and bake at 350 for 45 minutes (9 x 13)