A rainy day & a simple casserole Supper … CA needs the rain to stay some of the wildfires, and comfort food is always good 😁
A hamburger au gratin casserole appealed to me, so I pulled some hamburger out of the freezer to thaw & grabbed a boxed potato mix from the pantry - pulled together some veggies and spices: and hit with a sudden inspiration, I grabbed a roll of biscuits from the fridge to top the casserole off 😉
The kitchen smelled good, and we were warm and cozy listening to the rain that would freshen the smoke-filled air all around us: the 85-degree weather accompanied by the storm cell reminded us of WA State's rainforest environment - but today, the rain is very welcome.
I prepped as much as I could before actual cooking got underway around 3 PM:
I like au gratin potato casserole, and I like mine with hamburger in it; the green pepper & biscuits is something new - but I had them, so I utilized them for a new experience 👍
Val's Saucy Hamburger Au Gratin Casserole ~serves 3
1 box Au Gratin Potatoes dry mix * 1 c. boiling Water * 1-lb. Hamburger * 1 10-oz. can Cream of Mushroom Soup * 1 clove Garlic, pressed * 1/2 tsp. Salt * 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper, grnd. * 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg, grnd. * 1/2 tsp. Thyme leaves * 1/2 TBSP. Powdered Milk * 1 Yellow Onion, sliced * 1 c. whole kernel Corn (frozen or canned) * 1 Poblano Pepper, chopped * 1 c. Water * 1 can Biscuits (your choice preferred) * 1/2 c. Cheddar cheese, shredded * 2-qt. Casserole Dish, ovenproof * 1 large Cooking Spoon * 2 Dinner Dishes
(1) Preheat oven to 450-degrees.
(2) Open the potatoes packet from the boxed potato mix, and place in the casserole dish: microwave 1 c water & pour over dried potatoes.
Place skillet on range & brown hamburger over medium high heat.
(3) When hamburger is browned, add onion, garlic, & pepper to skillet; sauté veggies for a few minutes, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes - or until onions are translucent and pepper is softened.
(4) Stir in mushroom soup.
Blend together 1 cup water, dry milk powder, & packet of sauce mix - then stir into the souped skillet combo:
(5) Sprinkle the seasonings over the skillet combo & add the corn; stir to thoroughly incorporate.
(6) Pour the skillet mixture over the softened potatoes in the casserole dish, stirring to blend:
(7) Open the biscuits & place atop casserole mixture - sprinkle with cheese …
(8) Place casserole in the over & cook for about 45 minutes - or until biscuits are nicely browned.
Remove from oven & serve.
This simple casserole is good & comforting on a stormy day, and will be a repeat in this house 😊👌
