Tag: #ComfortFood

Posted in #Recipes

Chicken Florentine Casserole

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This chicken Florentine casserole is a paradox: it’s cozy, creamy and comforting, but also somehow bright and fresh. It’s inspired by a classic recipe that’s so popular, you’ve probably eaten it without knowing its name.

Florentine sauce might refer to the Italian city of Florence in its name, but it’s actually a French creation. At its simplest, Florentine is a creamy white sauce with spinach, often served with a protein like chicken, fish (like tilapia Florentine) or eggs (for classic eggs Florentine). Variations on classic chicken Florentine abound. This one is a simplified pasta casserole version, which calls for low-key pantry staples (elbow pasta, condensed soup). It’s like mac and cheese meets Florentine with its golden, toasty bread crumb crust. Make this on any busy weeknight—even the kids will eat it up.

Chicken Florentine Casserole Ingredients

  • Elbow macaroni: Noodles are a natural pairing with the thick, creamy Florentine-inspired sauce. We like elbow macaroni, which are naturally bite-sized.
  • Shredded cooked chicken: This recipe is a great way to use leftover chicken, whether grilled or rotisserie. You can quickly shred chicken with forks or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer.
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: Plenty of our favorite casserole recipes start with condensed soup. It delivers tons of flavor, and all you need to do is open a can.
  • Swiss cheese: Shredded Swiss cheese dissolves into the sauce, giving it a rich texture.
  • Frozen creamed spinach: Frozen vegetables are convenient and still full of flavor. Frozen creamed spinach adds extra richness, but you can use plain frozen spinach instead; just make sure to thaw and drain it first.
  • Mayonnaise: The secret ingredient in the sauce is mayonnaise, which adds a distinct tangy flavor to balance the rich cheese and soup.
  • Fresh basil: Don’t use dried basil if you can help it. Fresh basil packs a bold flavor punch that the dried stuff just can’t match. To quickly mince basil, roll the leaves, slice them into strips, then finely chop them.
  • Spices: Garlic powder, dried thyme and pepper build up the flavor.
  • Seasoned bread crumbs: Looking for an easy way to add spice? Sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs over the top of the casserole to form a bronzed, crispy crust.
  • Butter: Drizzle melted butter over the casserole to help the top brown.

Taste of Home

Posted in Kitchen Tips

How to Freeze Soup

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Soup is the ultimate make-ahead meal. Because most homemade soups can be stored in the freezer for at least three months, it’s a great dish to make on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy for weeks to come. However, learning how to freeze soup isn’t as simple as tossing your chicken noodle in the icebox.

Here are a few tricks to freezing soup that ensure it’ll taste delicious after it’s thawed.

How to Freeze Soup

Hand using a ladle to transfer soup into a plastic freezer bag from a pot in a kitchen setting
Taste of Home

Step 1: Pick a small portion size

Freezing soup in one- or two-person portions helps the soup freeze faster. It’s the perfect size for a make-ahead lunch or dinner, too.

Step 2: Choose the right container

  • If you don’t like to wait for soup to thaw: Try the round, reusable kind like freezer-safe Twist ‘n Loc containers from Ziploc. When you’re ready to eat, run cold water over the outside of the container to loosen. The soup will pop right out into a stockpot or Instant Pot for easy reheating. You can also try Souper Cubes, which are like ice cube trays but for soup servings.
  • If you want to maximize freezer space: Ladle cooled soup into freezer-safe quart- or gallon-sized plastic bags. Freeze flat and stack once the soup is fully frozen. (This is one of our favorite freezer organization tips!)

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

The Best Soup Recipes of 2025

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

The best soup recipes of 2025 are in! We combed through reader favorites to highlight our most beloved soups, from creamy classics to cozy, veggie-packed bowls.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

Baked Spaghetti with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

It took me until adulthood to finally discover the joy of mushrooms. This baked spaghetti with cream of mushroom soup transforms a typical pasta dinner thanks to that earthy, umami flavor—and lots of cheese. While the dish does require a bit of prep (mostly in creating the different layers), the yield is plentiful so you’ll be ready to go for a dinner party or for weeknight leftovers.

Serve it alongside some baked Parmesan broccoli or a simple chopped salad.

Baked Spaghetti with Cream of Mushroom Soup Ingredients

  • Onion: Use a yellow or sweet onion here. It’ll add sweetness and savoriness and cook well.
  • Green pepper:  Green pepper, a little bitter and a little crunchy, adds a pop of color and a bit of balance.
  • Diced tomatoes: The tomatoes cook down and provide moisture and acidity, harmonizing well with the other ingredients.
  • Mushroom stems and pieces: These will be canned; if you’re using fresh, look for creminis, buttons or shiitakes. (If you use shiitakes, don’t include their stems because they can be woody.)
  • Ripe olives: The briny olives cut through some of the creaminess and add an additional umami element.
  • Dried oregano: Oregano, a staple in many pasta sauces, is aromatic and herbal to provide depth to the dish.
  • Ground beef: While this is optional, beef adds a savory heartiness and extra protein.
  • Spaghetti: You’ll want to cook your spaghetti before starting this recipe.
  • Cheddar cheese: This melts for delightfully cheesy bites.
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup: You can use your preferred can. It will add instant creaminess with minimal effort.
  • Parmesan cheese: This will be sprinkled on top before baking for a salty topping.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

86 Make-Ahead Potluck Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Be ready for a last-minute party by keeping our make-ahead potluck recipes on hand. Each app, side, main and dessert feeds 12 or more so there will be plenty to go around.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

26 Skinny Dump-and-Go Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Cooking doesn’t get any easier than dump and go! Just pour in the ingredients and let your slow cooker do the rest. And the best part? Each recipe has a healthy twist.

Taste of Home

Posted in Uncategorized

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I don’t know about you, but I love a classic dump-and-bake casserole. Besides being ultra comforting, all-in-one casserole recipes are ideal for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. Plus, mixing all the ingredients directly in the casserole dish means fewer dirty dishes to wash. Win, win!

This cheesy chicken and rice casserole is precisely one of those recipes. It’s made with just seven ingredients, including condensed cream soup, instant rice and precooked chicken, so it’s a cinch to throw together and takes less than 30 minutes to bake to bubbly perfection. Each bite is full of tender white meat chicken and rice smothered in a creamy sauce. Top it all with melty cheddar cheese for a hearty, family-favorite dinner.

Chicken and Rice Casserole Ingredients

  • Canned soup: Condensed canned soup is the secret to making rich, creamy casseroles. We use cream of chicken and mushroom soups in this casserole to create a flavorful sauce that binds everything together.
  • Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds extra moisture that the rice absorbs while cooking. This recipe calls for reduced-sodium broth since the canned soups and onion soup mix contain sodium. You could also use an equal amount of vegetable broth or water.
  • Rice: This recipe uses instant white rice because it cooks fast and keeps the total baking time under 30 minutes.
  • Cooked chicken breast: Using precooked chicken is a timesaving hack. Shredded rotisserie chicken is one of our favorite easy-dinner shortcuts and will add a unique roasted chicken flavor to the dish. You can also use pieces of leftover chicken, like baked or grilled breasts, if they’re mildly seasoned.
  • Onion soup mix: A packet of onion soup mix is a no-fuss trick for seasoning casseroles, soups, slow-cooker recipes and more. The soup mix contains a blend of dried spices that adds savory flavor without a single measuring spoon.
  • Cheddar cheese: A layer of shredded cheddar covers the top of the casserole for cheesy flavor and an irresistible melty topping. Pre-shredded cheese is convenient, but it contains ingredients to prevent clumping that can interfere with how well the cheese melts. Grab a block of cheddar and grate your own cheese for extra-smooth melting.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

The Old-School Ground Beef Breakfast I Can’t Stop Making

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There is basically no kind of breakfast that tops a diner breakfast in my book. I’m from the Northeast and diner culture is big up here. I love all kinds of diners — classics that have been around for decades serving up waffles and omelettes, Greek diners, roadside diners, and new-school diners with menus full of twists on traditional fare. I love it all. When I learned of a storied breakfast recipe that has been served up in San Francisco diners for countless years, I knew I had to try it. I’ve never been to a diner on the west coast, but if this is what they’re slinging, I’m going to need to make a trip. Joe’s Special Scramble is the diner brunch dish of my dreams. 

Why Joe’s Special Scramble is So Great

If you’ve ever sat down for breakfast, looked at a menu and been unable to decide between breakfast and lunch, burger or omelette, this is the answer. Joe’s special scramble is a mix of scrambled eggs, seasoned ground beef, mushrooms, and spinach. It’s hearty and filling, but also indulgent. It scratches my itch for something kind of heavy to start my day (or midday, depending) with my want to also eat vegetables. Plop it next to some toast, hash browns, and a pot of strong coffee, and I am in heaven. 

Tips for Making Joe’s Special Scramble

  • You can make this just for one. If you’re making breakfast for less than four people, a ratio of 1 ounce of beef per large egg is just the right balance.
  • Brown the mushrooms first.  Mushrooms need room in the pan to brown properly. They just won’t get that same golden brown color and texture if you cook them at the same time as the beef. It’s worth it to cook them first and add them back in with the eggs.
  • Μake it your way. Add Worcestershire or soy sauce to the beef. Skip the nutmeg. Add hot sauce to the eggs. Sprinkle the whole thing with cheddar cheese (my favorite move). The possibilities are endless.

The Kitchn

Posted in #Recipes

34 of Our Best Copycat Dessert Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Surprise your family by making these copycat dessert recipes of sweets made famous by The Cheesecake Factory, Bakers Square and more.

Taste of Home

Posted in #Recipes

5-INGREDIENT CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS FOR TWO

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A comfort-food meal for two is a rare treat. This recipe makes just enough chicken and dumplings for a cozy night in without too many leftovers in your fridge.

Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Buttermilk Biscuits and Progresso™ Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth make this recipe simple and oh-so-delicious. Classic chicken and dumplings are comforting for many people, and this recipe brings out the traditional flavors you know and love.

Whether you’re hosting a friend, have a 1-1 dinner with your kiddo, or are planning a date night with your sweetheart, this recipe is beloved by all.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

Your dinner for two comes together with a few simple, easy-to-find ingredients. This is what you’ll need:

Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Buttermilk Biscuits: Not only are these biscuits flaky and full of flavor, they’re easy to work with, too. They make a great base for your dumplings.

Progresso™ Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth: This pre-made broth is a simple choice for your dish. The reduced sodium version makes it easy to customize the saltiness to your taste.

Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix: Ranch seasoning works perfectly in this dish. With garlic, onion, dill, parsley, and chives, ranch seasoning helps you to flavor your dish without requiring too many individual spices in your cupboard.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Shredded cheddar cheese makes this dish ultra-creamy. The shredded cooked chicken adds hearty flavor and protein to the recipe. Simple black pepper brings mild heat and flavor to round out your dinner.

Pillsbury