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This Tuna Swiss Melt Casserole is a nice twist on the traditional tuna casserole and makes for a great, quick, and easy midweek meal!

I may have been in the minority of people growing up who actually enjoyed tuna casserole. Maybe it’s just my Gulf Coast upbringing, loving everything from the sea. Even I have to admit that the classic recipes like this can get a bit tired after a while, though. Adding Swiss cheese and tomatoes to the mix makes for a nice upgrade, I think. Swiss cheese is one of those “happy medium” cheeses that has a distinct flavor without being too overpowering, and it actually takes on more depth of flavor when melted. The result: a really creamy casserole with a topping that nicely complements the natural flavor of the tuna. Just make a side salad, and you have a filling, soothing, well-balanced full meal–with minimal effort. Yummy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Bickering Cooks

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Quick tip: Use a 9″ x 13″ baking dish, coated with cooking spray.

This Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken is perfect for people who want a low-hassle meal and like their meat on the sweet side. It features a sticky-sweet sauce, with the natural mild acidity of the pineapple and mandarin oranges giving it just the right amount of tartness to put the sweet and savory flavors in balance. I have to say, the Hawaiians do know how to blend the Asian and American cooking traditions nicely. I was more than happy to break out my Crock-Pot again to give this a try. And with no pre-cooking even required, this recipe is about as easy as it gets.

For easier cleanup, spray down your slow cooker with some cooking spray or use a liner. You can tweak the sauce in this recipe a bit according to taste. The simplest way to serve this chicken is as shown, on a bed of rice of your choice. I happen to think that jasmine rice goes beautifully with this! That is likely more than enough for a full meal for most people, but if you want some sides, I would recommend some simply cooked carrots and a green vegetable of your choice for a bit of contrast.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Our Table For Seven

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Quick tip: Use slow cooker liners for an easier cleanup!

Are You Ready To Sample Some Of This Incredible Dessert?

Bread pudding is a classic dessert that can best be described as simple but elegant. This Bread Pudding With Whiskey Sauce recipe includes options for lightening things up a bit while still bringing the great flavor.

My great-grandmother, whom I called Granny and whom Dad called Mama, made a fantastic bread pudding with a whiskey sauce that practically made a dessert by itself. Alas, Granny closely guarded her recipes, and it was lost. I was happy to stumble upon this recipe and indulge in a little nostalgia. Though I can’t say that the recipe is exactly the same, it is similar, and I think that even Granny would have agreed that it is really tasty.

Of course, if you prefer making the sauce without the whiskey, this will still turn out delightful. But I would highly recommend giving it a try! I am definitely not a fan of whiskey but it makes this dessert super flavorful.

Recipe courtesy of Audrey at Dishably. Image courtesy star5112.

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Quick Tip: Drizzle some maple syrup on this bread pudding before digging in. Yum!

This Santa Fe Chicken and Lentil Casserole is just as healthy and delicious as it is colorful and festive. It’s loaded with plenty of delicious chicken and vegetables and makes eight servings at about 380 calories per serving.

Hey, I like a good helping of that filling, good-old comfortable “guilt food” now and then, too, but sometimes, it is nice to push the boundaries somewhat and find something healthy and tasty outside the usual comfort zone. I haven’t used lentils often in my cooking (they just weren’t something Mother used much in her cooking, so I never really got good exposure to them at a young age), but I have to say, this is a really tasty casserole, and it manages to be relatively low-cal and low-sodium (each serving contains just 22.5% of the daily recommended amount) and have good helpings of dietary fiber, lean protein, and complex carbs. Kudos to Olena at iFOODreal for developing such a yummy and healthy original recipe.

Recipe and photo courtesy of iFOODreal

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Quick tip: Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days or freeze in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

If you enjoy the flavor of good barbecue but don’t feel like firing up the grill (or if it’s a bit outside of grilling season in your part of the world), your slow cooker is a good tool for re-creating that great BBQ flavor indoors. This Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken is really savory and tender and is low-hassle enough for a regular family meal but works well for most any gathering.

The weather has been turning cooler here, and my old grill has finally beat the dust, so alas, I am done with outdoor cooking until next year, it seems. But I had a hankering for some barbecue, so I gave this barbecue chicken recipe a try. I have to say, the chicken came out nice and moist, and I thought that the spice blend was excellent.

Recipe courtesy of Better in Bulk

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Casseroles are rather convenient and often very flavorful, but not all of them exactly have a reputation for being extremely healthy.  If you are looking for a health-conscious, veggie-heavy casserole with rich flavor and creamy texture, this Healthy Spinach & Artichoke Casserole is an excellent choice! This is also a great way to make your kids eat their greens – with a recipe like this, it’s not going to be a problem!

I like spinach raw, in generous amounts in salad, and boiled artichoke with some salted butter is a nice treat, to me.  Not everyone is so keen on these vegetables in their basic or raw form, however, and after a while, they can be boring to eat by themselves.  Easy solution: mix them together with some cheese and bake them in a casserole.  Yummy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of iFOODreal

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Quick tip: You can make this ahead by freezing the dish assembled and bake from frozen, increasing baking time by about 15 – 20 minutes.

Two of these could about make a full meal by themselves, and one makes for a very good side.  These Twice-Baked Jalapeño Sweet Potatoes are loaded with flavor and healthy goodness. And don’t worry – the spiciness is not overwhelming and easily adjustable.

I have read plenty about how good sweet potatoes are for you:  good fiber and complex carbs, much lower glycemic index than “regular” potatoes, antioxidants, Vitamin A, etc. And I have come to love their flavor, though I must admit that I was a bit slow to warm up to them as a kid.  Part of the problem is, I think, that there just aren’t enough good and creative recipes out there for sweet potatoes or at least not enough well-known ones. Well, you’ll want to save this one.

Recipe and photo courtesy of iFOODreal

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Quick tip: Adjust the amount of jalapenos to your liking.