Recently, someone told me that casseroles were old fashioned and out of style.  I begged to differ.  After all, if casseroles are wrong, I don’t want to be right! 

 

Right?!

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Why do I call this the Cross Your Fingers Casserole?  Well, I literally tossed random ingredients in a dish and crossed my fingers.  I doubted it would turn out for a little bit – but then I popped a forkful of the casserole into the Husband’s mouth and he said, “Mmmm! This is AMAZING.”

 

The ingredients include whole wheat pasta, hummus, canned soup, faux vegan sausages, and spinach.  Plus – the magical ingredient:  KETCHUP!

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Yes, ketchup was a last-minute addition.  I think a tomato-sauce or ketchup is a good addition to a cheese- or egg-less casserole.  It adds flavor and oomph.

 

Ingredients (for 6 servings):

 

  • 4 cups whole wheat pasta (measured dry)
  • 1 can Amy’s Vegetable Barley soup
  • 1/2 cup hummus
  • 2 Field Roast faux vegan sausages
  • 4 huge handfuls of spinach
  • Pepper
  • Generous squirts of ketchup

 

Directions:

 

  • Preheat oven to 375.
  • Boil water and prepare pasta according to package directions.  Cook under al dente.
  • Pre-heat a wok.
  • Meanwhile, tear up the spinach with your hands.  In a large bowl, combine the soup, hummus, pepper, and spinach.  Stir and let the spinach soak up the flavors.
  • Chop the sausages and add to the wok.  Cook until browned.

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  • Drain pasta and add to spinach mix.  Add sausage.  Mix thoroughly.
  • Grease a large casserole dish and pour mix into the dish.
  • Squirt ketchup generously on top, cover with tin foil, and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

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This casserole was the perfect dish for a spontaneous dinner party with Nicole and Isaac.

 

Nicole brought over the veg!

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And I went back for seconds.  Soooo good.

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And then we played several intense rounds of Scattergories.  Love that game!!

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Let’s see – I also ran 4.0 miles today, which was an accomplishment because I’ve only ran that far a few times in the last four weeks.  I was very proud of myself!  I didn’t wear a watch so I have no idea how long it took, but I didn’t walk at all.  Watch out – Caitlin’s on a comeback!

{ 58 comments }

 

  • Camille November 29, 2010, 8:44 pm

    I love meals like that! It makes it even better when they turn out amazingly 🙂

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) November 29, 2010, 8:47 pm

    I love meal time successes!!! 🙂

    Congrats on the 4 miles!!!! 🙂 I’m nursing an injury but I can’t wait to run again!

    Watch out world! Caitlin’s coming back! 🙂

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) November 29, 2010, 8:48 pm

    Yes, I DO think that casseroles are old-fashioned but I love them anyway — they always remind me of something a housewife would make in the ’50s. 😉 It’s just so nice to throw everything together into one pan and have a simple, healthy meal.

  • gabriella November 29, 2010, 8:49 pm

    sounds so good and i have all those ingredients too! might be a future dinner this week

  • Kelly November 29, 2010, 8:50 pm

    Casseroles are fantastic and don’t ever let anyone tell you any different!

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) November 29, 2010, 8:53 pm

    Congrats on getting in the longer run! And if casseroles are old fashioned, then I am too. They’re just too easy for packed lunches and for quick, healthy dinners.

  • Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama November 29, 2010, 8:54 pm

    Is that your handwriting? I looked at it and thought, “they must be playing with a little kid”. 🙂 I mean that in the nicest possible way. It just made me chuckle.

    • Caitlin November 29, 2010, 8:55 pm

      hahah aww! does it really look young? yes, it’s my sloppy handwriting!

      • Jen November 29, 2010, 9:45 pm

        Actually, I think the hand-writing shows the opposite! More of an independent “scrawler” if you will?

        …and ketchup goes with EVERYTHING!

  • Kristina @ spabettie November 29, 2010, 8:54 pm

    I don’t know if I’ve ever really made a casserole, but I’ve made MANY “cross your fingers” dishes!! 😀 this looks great, and I completely agree about ketchup… yum.

  • Becky November 29, 2010, 8:56 pm

    that looks delicious… but it also looks like you used an Amy’s canned soup and not an Annie’s- just want to be sure the right people get the credit 🙂

    • Caitlin November 29, 2010, 8:58 pm

      Oh thanks for catching that! Correcting now.

  • grocery goddess jen November 29, 2010, 8:56 pm

    I used to love that game!! I haven’t played forever. Good memories.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine November 29, 2010, 8:57 pm

    My boyfriend’s mom told me about those sausages- she says they’re great! Bookmarking this recipe to share with her!

  • Jenny November 29, 2010, 9:04 pm

    For a second I missed the part where you said “faux vegan sausages” and was confused for a while, haha.

  • sarah November 29, 2010, 9:07 pm

    sometimes ketchup is the perfect touch to a meal. I just wish it had Vitamin C in it…I guess they processed the nutrients out of it. Since Vitamin C aids in iron absorption, I thought I was doing a good thing eating it on lentils and bean until I read the nutrition facts. Maybe there are kinds of ketchup with real vitamins like Vit C?

    • Caitlin November 29, 2010, 9:08 pm

      I’ve never heard of this before! Interesting.

  • Clare @ Fitting It All In November 29, 2010, 9:08 pm

    Isn’t it crazy how 4 miles can seem so long, yet during training 4 miles is an easy short run? Ebbs and flows of running…so weird!

  • Ashley November 29, 2010, 9:10 pm

    That casserole actually looks really good. I love it when spur of the moment things turn out for the better, especially with cooking.

  • JenATX November 29, 2010, 9:13 pm

    soup as a sauce.. what a good idea!

  • Charlie November 29, 2010, 9:15 pm

    This casserole looks delicious! And I love Scattergories :).

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) November 29, 2010, 9:15 pm

    I keep seeing those ‘sausages’ on blogs today! Where did you get them? They look delicious…

    • Caitlin November 29, 2010, 9:18 pm

      They are SUPER good and the ingredient list is short. I found them at Earthfare.

  • Nicole @ yuppie yogini November 29, 2010, 9:21 pm

    Dinner was really yummy. Thanks 🙂

  • Dee November 29, 2010, 9:22 pm

    YUM!

    ps. I love scattegories!

  • Balanced Healthy Life November 29, 2010, 9:24 pm

    I love casseroles! I love how comforting they are!

  • Laurie November 29, 2010, 9:30 pm

    I ran for the first time in a couple of weeks today. My calves were aching, I had to stop and stretch several times (it’s completely ok in my mind now because you say you do it) :). But as I was running I was thinking about when you said you don’t really get into the groove until about 3 miles. I laughed at myself as I agonized through the first mile, as if I was going to do more than 3 my first time out in a while? I did get in the groove after about 1.5. Our GOTR is Saturday. Gotta get myself back to grind to keep up w/ Missy 9 year old.

  • Sarah for Real November 29, 2010, 9:37 pm

    Way to go! I love the name that you gave it. Two thumbs up!

  • Brittney November 29, 2010, 9:40 pm

    Oh I am the queen of Scattergories! I used to play that ALL THE TIME as a kid! Great game 🙂 Might have to break out some games at the Cookie Exchange!

  • Sarah November 29, 2010, 9:41 pm

    My mom told me that she was making turkey soup once and called my grandmother crying because it “didn’t taste right.” My grandmother asked, “Did you put ketchup in?” My mom calls it the magic soup ingredient. 🙂 So when my husband first tried to make soup, he was so frustrated because it didn’t taste as good as mine. I told him to add ketchup and he was horrified and refused to add it! I tried to explain it wasn’t gross, but had no luck.

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey November 29, 2010, 9:43 pm

    There are a couple reasons why I may or may not be in love with you right now…

    1. You made a casserole – I <3 casseroles!

    2. You used KETCHUP in your casserole… I wish I could swim in a tub of ketchup with some sweet potatoes hanging out on the side for me to dip into the ketchup. Okay, that was weird, sorry.

    3. Scattergories – the Husband and I are CHAMPIONS!!!

  • Haleigh November 29, 2010, 9:47 pm

    Congrats on your 4 mile run! The casserole looks delicious. There is something so comforting about a good casserole- old fashioned or not 😉

  • Georgie @ Georgie Goes Healthy November 29, 2010, 9:55 pm

    So glad to hear your body is recuperating! And casseroles are so not out of style – yours looks great!

  • Jen November 29, 2010, 9:58 pm

    I love casseroles! So nice to have a healthy meal all in one pan, especially after a long day at work. And I think your handwriting is fabulous! Looks way better than mine…I used to have lovely penmanship but using a computer for 40 hours a week X 10+ years has reduced me to chicken scratch 🙁

  • Jamie @ Food in Real Life November 29, 2010, 9:58 pm

    As long as people still eat lasagna and baked ziti (the original casseroles in my opinion) they will never be out of style!

  • Wei-Wei November 29, 2010, 10:18 pm

    Casserole is definitely not out of fashion – try and find someone against sweet potato casserole on Thanksgiving. Um, no.

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss November 29, 2010, 10:30 pm

    I havent had a casserole in forreever. I sure do miss them, though.

  • Dorry November 29, 2010, 10:38 pm

    Congrats on the 4 miles today! Great feeling. This casserole looks delish. I love casseroles b/c they are great for leftovers, too. And adding hummus is genius.

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate November 29, 2010, 11:13 pm

    I LOVE scattegories! Definitely my favorite game!

  • Julie November 29, 2010, 11:22 pm

    Looks yum… do you use the “natural” ketchup???

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 30, 2010, 12:10 am

    LOL – people are weird 🙂 How can a food be out of style? Casseroles rule!

  • Katherine @ Left Coast Contessa November 30, 2010, 12:28 am

    I love casseroles! I sure HOPE they aren’t going out of style. If that’s true then I’m pretty unstylish!

  • Kim @ Kim Lives Healthy November 30, 2010, 6:54 am

    YUM! I’m still reeling over all the Thanksgiving casseroles from this weekend… broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and squash casserole… most of those have a cream base like cream of mushroom – but you use the barley soup? Sounds like a good sub to me!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) November 30, 2010, 7:22 am

    Oh, Caitlin, sounds like a great day ending with a great meal! I love that you put ketchup in it…ketchup really does make everything better! I put it in a soup last week and the boys went crazy they loved it so much! Oh and casseroles are comforting…not old fashioned!

  • Shannon November 30, 2010, 7:44 am

    Believe me, once you have children and you’re cooking for more than just yourself and your spouse, you get over–really quickly–any notion that a casserole (or any other easy, quick, hearty dinner dish) is “out of style.” It’s all about getting it on the table, and you’re not picky about your food being trendy or modern. 😉 So, cook on, Caitlin!!!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) November 30, 2010, 7:49 am

    Sometimes it’s the “cross your fingers” meals that come out the best and brightest. This looks great! 😀

    I love scattergories too. My family usually ends up in arguments by the end, but in a fun sort of way. 😉

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) November 30, 2010, 8:14 am

    I love casseroles! They are so simple yet so tasty. Congrats on the 4 miler. You’ll e back in no time 🙂

  • Kacy November 30, 2010, 8:18 am

    I love casseroles, probably because I’m obsessed with leftovers. Neither of those things are considered chic but I could give a damn. That casserole looks delish!

    LOVE scattergories! And congrats on the 4 miles. I have yet to run more than 10 minutes since my last half. Oops.

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat November 30, 2010, 8:33 am

    I’ve been making these all the time lately! It’s a great way to use up fridge leftovers and the combinations seem to turn out amazing. Yours sounds tasty! 🙂

  • Kristy November 30, 2010, 8:36 am

    That person who said casseroles were out of style is crazy! Comfort food is the black of the food world! 🙂

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story November 30, 2010, 9:31 am

    I absolutely LOVE the picture of the casserole with the christmas lights in the background. I kind of want it framed and in my kitchen. For some reason I’m in awe of that picture.

    Casseroles will never die. They are amazing.

  • Alina @ Duty Free Foodie November 30, 2010, 9:36 am

    I never cease to be amazed at how much running is about consistency. Taking time from running is something I really notice, much more so than with any other exercise.

    That picture with the Christmas lights in the background is gorgeous!

  • Sally November 30, 2010, 9:47 am

    I love that you like casseroles – I love ’em too, especially when they’re a healthy remake of the rich, cheesy kind from years ago!

  • Amber K November 30, 2010, 10:46 am

    Ahh meal success, awesome! Who in the world thinks casseroles are out? Definitely not, I think they are making a comeback!

  • Amanda (Eating Up) November 30, 2010, 10:48 am

    I love Scattegories! Ooo I should put that on my wish list!

  • Vera November 30, 2010, 5:16 pm

    Sometimes those Cross Your Fingers foods turn out tasting amazing.
    You made me want cooking Casserole again.

  • Alicia @ Addsomesprinkles November 30, 2010, 10:30 pm

    Yummy! Loving your blog!

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