Cheesy Rice, Kale, and Mushroom Casserole*****

06 December 2011Cheesy Rice, Kale, and Mushroom Casserole
Comfort food is in full throttle in this kitchen! =) Here's what happens when I'm too lazy to make risotto, ridiculously bored of macaroni and cheese, and on a roaring kale and mushroom kick.
06 December 2011Cheesy Rice, Kale, and Mushroom Casserole
Comfort food is in full throttle in this kitchen! =) Here's what happens when I'm too lazy to make risotto, ridiculously bored of macaroni and cheese, and on a roaring kale and mushroom kick:

Get Cooking!
PREHEAT your oven [or toaster oven!] to 350F. Cook rice utilizing your favorite method. While the rice is fluffing away, saute your veggies in a teeny bit of butter. Season kale and mushrooms with a teeny bit of salt and pepper, and add [+ cook] garlic towards the end to prevent burning. Once both the rice and veggies are done cooking, combine in a baking dish and stir in ricotta or cottage cheeses. Sprinkle in a little of your grated parmesan and stir to incorporate. Taste the mixture and re-season if needed. At this point i usually add in a sprinkle of parsley and some additional garlic powder, to taste. Top casserole with grated cheddar and parm cheeses and sprinkle liberally with red pepper flakes for an extra kick of flavor. BAKE for 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Turning your oven to BROIL towards the end of baking for just a minute or so will give the dish an extra golden layer on top. Just keep an eye on it to prevent burning during this extra step =) Worth it!

06 December 2011Cheesy Rice, Kale, and Mushroom Casserole
Comfort food is in full throttle in this kitchen! =) Here's what happens when I'm too lazy to make risotto, ridiculously bored of macaroni and cheese, and on a roaring kale and mushroom kick:

Cheesy Rice, Kale, and Mushroom Casserole
aka what to make when you're entirely too lazy for risotto
makes 2 servings

What's in it?
1 cup cooked white/brown/yellow rice [1/4 cup dry, cooked any way you'd like!]
1/2 cup of ricotta or blended cottage cheese
a handful of chopped dinosaur kale
8 oz sliced button or portabello mushrooms
1 clove of garlic, minced
a thin slice of butter for sauteing
grated cheddar and parmesan cheeses [approx a handful of each... measure schmeasure!]
salt, pepper, parsley red pepper flakes, and garlic powder, to taste

Get Cooking!
PREHEAT your oven [or toaster oven!] to 350F. Cook rice utilizing your favorite method. While the rice is fluffing away, saute your veggies in a teeny bit of butter. Season kale and mushrooms with a teeny bit of salt and pepper, and add [+ cook] garlic towards the end to prevent burning. Once both the rice and veggies are done cooking, combine in a baking dish and stir in ricotta or cottage cheeses. Sprinkle in a little of your grated parmesan and stir to incorporate. Taste the mixture and re-season if needed. At this point i usually add in a sprinkle of parsley and some additional garlic powder, to taste. Top casserole with grated cheddar and parm cheeses and sprinkle liberally with red pepper flakes for an extra kick of flavor. BAKE for 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Turning your oven to BROIL towards the end of baking for just a minute or so will give the dish an extra golden layer on top. Just keep an eye on it to prevent burning during this extra step =) Worth it!

So... How was it?
This was one of those random, throw in everything from the fridge as you cook kind of meals... a method of cooking usually yields the best, most random results! This fridge-cleaning casserole was an instant success and made a delicious + comforting lunch for a cold, dreary day. After weeks of chowing noodles and quinoa like it was my job, it was such a nice change of pace to have some fluffy rice back in my life. Red pepper flakes have become my ultimate topping for anything cheese-related and I wouldn't skip them for the world! The flavorful kale and hearty mushrooms were a fantastic paring with garlic and rice. I'm actually craving it again so I may try my hand at a new variation with a different mix of colorful veggies. Maybe some spinach and buttery squash? Ahhh can't wait!

Have you ever used rice in a casserole-style dish?
This was my first time!

http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/4648722-cheesy-rice-kale-and-mushroom-casserole