“CASSEROLE MAKEOVER” Contest
grand prize
The Queen of the Casserole!
Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Maria Reyes is no stranger to southwestern food. So it’s no surprise that her fabulous Southwest Turkey Casserole won over our panel of judges in the recent “Casserole Makeover” contest. The taste-testers couldn’t get enough of this hearty one-dish meal, a spiced-up blend of pasta, turkey, cheese and veggies. Maria was crowned the $500 Grand Prize winner.
“I helped put together a small family-favorites cookbook, and the turkey casserole was one of the recipes,” says Maria, who now lives in Bastrop, Texas. “I’ve been making this recipe for about five years. I never thought it would win a contest!”
She started cooking when she was 13 years old. “My mother ran an upholstery shop, and my father was a cook for an oil company, so when they were gone, I cooked for the family,” she relates.
Maria didn’t get her first cookbook, however, until she was 20. Among her collection of about 30 cookbooks is one from her father. “It’s 53 years old and contains recipes from different countries,” she says. “It’s an oldie but goody.”
Following in her father’s footsteps, Maria cooked in restaurants for many years. She has also spent a lot of time in her own kitchen, feeding her family and contributing potluck dishes to local churches and a mental health center. Her four grown children and 13 grandchildren keep her busy as well as sewing, gardening, and arts and crafts. And she loves to bake.
“What I like doing the most is baking breads, pies, cakes and turnovers,” she says. When it comes to preparing casseroles, family favorites include Chicken and Rice Cassserole, Tuna Casserole and Vegetarian Lasagna. But there are bound to be requests for Southwest Turkey Casserole, now that it’s an award-winner.
Asked if she had any tips for making her tasty dish, she replied, “The cheesier, the better!”
Casserole Cues
- • If you don’t have cracker crumbs on hand for a topping, you can substitute crushed cornflakes.
- • Almost any casserole can be “dressed up” with a topping or garnish such as french-fried onions, buttered bread crumbs, shredded cheese, fresh parsley or green onion. Or top individual slices with a dollop of sour cream.
- • Freeze leftovers in individual, airtight containers. Let them thaw overnight before reheating.
- • Watching your sodium? Many casseroles use canned soup. You can reduce the salt content of the dish by choosing low-sodium soup. However, it may affect the overall flavor slightly.
- • Don’t be afraid to experiment. Add green peas to your tuna casserole, use chicken or turkey cubes instead of the tuna, or add chopped red pepper to a green bean casserole.
- • In a hurry? Instead of cutting and peeling vegetables for a casserole, buy pre-cut carrots, broccoli florets and other veggies from your grocery store’s salad bar. It might not save you money, but it will save you prep time.