TUNA CASSEROLE

Tasty Tuna Casserole

Makes 5 servings. You can make your own white sauce instead of using the canned soup or use the low-fat or low-sodium varieties if you prefer. Cooked rice can be substituted for the pasta if you like. This is very adaptable, add more vegetables, like carrots or corn. If the mixture is too thick, thin it with a little milk. For the topping, I used fresh bread crumbs mixed with cheese and made sure they were browned and crispy. Back in the day, this casserole was topped with crushed potato chips, canned onion rings or cracker crumbs.

1 cup small shells, spirals or macaroni, cooked in salted boiling water until tender; drained and set aside

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

½ onion, chopped

¼ bell pepper, chopped

1 rib celery, chopped

1 (6.4-ounce) pouch chunk light tuna in water OR 2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna, drained

1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed OR carrots OR corn kernels

1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup OR cream of mushroom soup

½ cup milk

¼ teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Salt, black pepper and cayenne to taste

⅔ cup grated cheddar, divided

¾ cup fresh bread crumbs OR butter cracker crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray, set aside.

2. Cook pasta in boiling, salted water until tender; drain and set aside.

3. In small skillet, add butter or olive oil and sauté, onion, bell pepper and celery until vegetables are tender.

4. In separate, large bowl, add sautéed vegetables, tuna, sweet peas, soup, milk, thyme, mustard, garlic powder. Season to taste with salt (be careful because soup and pasta are already salted). Add pepper to taste.

5. Add half of the cheese to the tuna mixture. Taste for seasoning and correct if necessary. It should be a bit spicy. The other half of the cheese is mixed with the bread crumbs and set aside.

6. Transfer tuna mixture to greased baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, sprinkle bread crumb and cheese mixture over the top of the casserole and continue baking for 8-10 minutes or until top is golden and casserole is heated through.