Superb and mouth-watering dish Chicken Casserole Recipe, from www.gourmetrecipe.com http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/cheese-topped-chicken-tortilla-casserole

1. Chicken Casserole Recipes
Chicken casseroles are traditionally slow cooked in a big cast iron or ceramic vessel
with chunks of rough chopped root vegetables. The closed cooking vessel tenderizes
the meat and retains moisture. Any casserole dish is characterized by a thick sauce or
binding agent like flour, pasta, rice of starch veggies. The result is a filling dish that
may be considered comfort food especially if eaten during cold weather or a rainy day.
The chicken rice and mushroom casserole looks like a cross between a porridge and
risotto. This one-dish meal is made healthier with the use of brown rice and the
addition of olive oil (high in good fat) and almonds (high-fiber). While it cooks slowly,
the added chicken broth harmonizes with other ingredients and becomes a
wonderfully thick tasty sauce. In casserole cookery, it is less likely to overdo a dish
because the cooking vessel is closed and the moisture just circulates and tenderizes
the meat even further.
Other great tasting combinations for chicken casseroles include combining it with
green leafy vegetables like spinach or kale, tomatoes and onions and flavoring it with
Cajun seasonings. Traditional macaroni and cheese can be cooked in a casserole and
combined with roasted and chopped chicken. In terms of ingredient combinations,
the only limit is your imagination, the availability of ingredients and even your budget.
You can go gourmet by using fancy starches like Arborio short grain rice or wild black
rice and season with fancy spices like saffron for some Spanish infusion. Feeling
fancy? Cook your dish with white wine and shaved black truffles. That will surely
impress even the most finicky of gourmets. Of course, you’ll be extra pressured to
match this dish with equally fancy meal accompaniments from the salad, soup, dessert
to the wine selection. When preparing casseroles with wine, make sure that you’re
using a bottle that you’ll actually drink and not some cheap cooking wine that comes
in a carton that you buy for a couple of bucks.
In terms of nutrition, you can make a casserole low fat by making simple substitutions,
like replacing whole milk and cream with low fat versions. Replace butter with olive
oil and go easy on adding fatty ingredients like bacon and sausages and instead add
more vegetables and mushrooms. Go organic with the vegetables and free range with
the chicken especially if you have sensitivities to chemicals and artificial ingredients.
Superb in its taste Chicken Casserole … from www.gourmetrecipe.com:

2. Cheese-topped Chicken Tortilla
Casserole
This casserole blends the best of nachos and quesadillas for a rich, cheesy meal.
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Difficulty Level: Average
Ingredients:
6 6-inch corn tortillas, 2 cups cubed cooked chicken, 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, 1
jar (16 oz) salsa, 3 tbsp. fat-free sour cream, 3 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tbsp.
flour, 2 cup (8 oz.) shredded Mexican cheese blend
Preparation Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut tortillas into wedges, six wedges for each one.
Lightly coat a large casserole dish with cooking spray or olive oil. Place half of the
tortilla wedges in the bottom of the dish. Place the other half on a baking sheet. Put
baking sheet in oven and bake until tortillas are crisp and golden, about 10 minutes.
While tortillas are baking, mix chicken, corn, salsa, sour cream, cilantro and flour. Pour
mixture over top of tortillas in baking dish. When the plain tortillas are finished,
remove from oven and set aside. Place baking dish in oven and cook, uncovered, for
20 minutes. Remove from oven. Arrange baked tortillas wedges on top of casserole.
Top with cheese. Bake until heated through, 5-10 minutes. Garnish with extra sour
cream, fresh peppers, fresh cilantro and chopped tomato, if desired.