A surprise crowd-pleasing favorite
Last week, the buzz around town was the win by the Seattle Seahawks that put them into the playoffs. It definitely came as a surprise because no one expected it. After all, they had lost more games than they won this season.
No one expected them to do well against the New Orleans Saints this past weekend, so it was a huge shock when they won and will now continue to the next level on the road to the Super Bowl.
I’ll admit I really haven’t been following the team for the last couple years. They have been a favorite of mine and I’ve been very disappointed with them. I hated watching them lose game after game.
And, no, I didn’t watch the last game, either, as I expected the Saints to run over top of them.
Now, they are off to Chicago to face the Bears, a team that has the same season record as the Saints. I don’t expect the Seahawks to be as lucky this Sunday, but stranger things have happened.
Either way, I don’t think they will make it all the way to the Super Bowl.
For many, the Super Bowl is a day when families and friends often get together to watch the game. Some folks host a big crowd and that calls for lots of food to keep everyone satisfied as it takes energy to jump up and down and shout for your favorite team.
There are many crowd-pleasing favorites, including chips and dips, finger sandwiches, hot wings and meatballs. But somewhere along the way, it’s nice to sneak in some vegetables, especially if children are present. That’s where an easy casserole comes in.
Most people like potatoes and will enjoy a casserole made with this vegetable we proudly grow here in the Columbia Basin. The one I’m featuring this week can be made ahead of time, refrigerated and popped in the oven the day of the big game.
You can also freeze it after baking. Just let thaw before reheating.
It’s easy and quick to put together and is great for many occasions, including parties, potluck dinners, buffets or family get-togethers.
It can be used as a side dish or add some meat, such as ham, to make it a meal in one dish. It only takes about 10 minutes to put together, so try it for your own Super Bowl party this weekend.
Hash brown potato casserole
4 ounces butter, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
12 ounces sour cream
1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 (24-ounce) package frozen hash brown potatoes (break up any frozen clumps)
1 small chopped onion (about 1 cup)
1 small diced sweet red bell pepper
Paprika
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and 8 by 11-inch shallow glass oven-proof casserole dish.
In a large bowl, combine softened butter, chicken soup, sour cream and thyme. Mix well.
To the soup mixture, add 8 ounces of the cheddar cheese, frozen hash brown potatoes, onion and bell pepper. Mix well. Pour into greased casserole dish.
Top with remaining 4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese. Sprinkle top with paprika.
Bake 1 hour and 30 minutes, uncovered. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Yield: 10 to 12 servings.
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