Casserole Culture Family Cooking Makes a Comeback With Canned Salmon

Where did the idea of a nice dinner casserole, crock pot meal or bake go? While they may still pop up from time to time in kitchens across the country, the concept of a casserole as it stood somewhere around the 1950s seems to have disappeared into the legends of Americana. Perhaps fortifying the woodwork which holds up the institution of the modern kitchen, today's 'casserole' concept is a meal which comes in a bag or a box.

Although rarely described as gourmet, a casserole or bake was a quick and easy meal that drew largely on at-hand ingredients. Such is the boxed, bagged, frozen, or otherwise 'nearly' ready to eat dinner today. Within 15 to 20 minutes and with the quick addition of some hamburger, cheese, milk or a powder packet, dinner is ready! Most parents would like to avoid feeding these prepackaged meals to their kids, knowing they are full of preservatives and poisons and decidedly lacking in nutrition, but it's hard to find the time.

Healthy Casseroles

One great suggestion for the modern family is to take a trip down memory lane to their own childhoods, or that of their parents, and start reinventing the old concept of the casserole. A great way to start is with a nutritious base like canned salmon with its Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, protein, vitamins and minerals. Ready to go right out of the can, or great in a casserole or bake, start with some of these casserole, crock pot and bake recipes using canned salmon.

Simple Salmon and Green Bean Casserole (Less than one hour grocery bag to table)

This recipe and similar recipes using canned salmon are great for a quick dinner fix.

In a saucepan melt a 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Blend in a 1/4 cup of flour with a dash of salt, pepper and thyme. Removing the mixture from the heat, stir in 2 cups of milk gradually. Place the saucepan back over the heat, stirring constantly for about a minute. Next, stir 2 cups of thawed green beans and one can of flaked and drained salmon to the mixture. Butter a casserole dish and toss in the mixture, baking for 30 minutes at 375 degrees, or until the mixture is hot and bubbly.

Cheesy Dill Salmon Bake (Less than one hour grocery bag to table)

This recipe and similar recipes using canned salmon are great for a quick dinner fix.

Whisk 4 eggs in a bowl then sir in one can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, a teaspoon of dried dill, and black pepper to taste. Next, toss in a can of salmon (flaked and drained), a 1 /2 cups of thawed peas, 4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of dry breadcrumbs, a chopped onion and a chopped bell pepper. Grease a baking pan before transferring the mixture over, and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. When the casserole is nearly ready, sprinkle 4 more ounces of grated cheddar cheese over top and put back in the oven for 5 minutes.

Tasty Crock Pot Scalloped Salmon Potatoes (Quick prep with a long cook time)

This recipe and similar recipes using canned salmon are great for a meal ready by the time you get home from work or school)

Begin by peeling and slicing 5 medium potatoes. Grease a crock pot and place half of the sliced potatoes inside. Sprinkle the potatoes with a tablespoon of flour, and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle over top chopped onion, and a half can of flaked canned salmon. Continue building layers like this until all the potatoes and the entire can of salmon have been used. Next, take a can of cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup and 1/4 cup water and mix them, pouring the entire mixture over the layered potatoes. Finish the crock pot with a dash of nutmeg and leave to cook on low for about 8 hours. Spend 20 minutes in the morning and come home to a delicious dinner at the end of a long day!

Casserole Culture Family Cooking Makes a Comeback With Canned Salmon

Looking for wonderful Alaskan Seafood recipes? Check out great meals to make for your family from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Check out the ASMI Facebook page for more information on Alaska Seafood!