Welcome to One Crafty Broad.

Hello all.

Welcome to the first post for One Crafty Broad. I don't know how often I will get around to updating this thing but I will certainly be trying to do it often. I will be posting photos & the recipe for one of my favorite dishes called California Casserole. It comes from my grandmother on my Father's side & is a great dish for any day of the week. If you decide to try it out please let me know how you like it!

California Casserole

1lb ground beef or turkey
1tsp sugar
1tsp salt
1 6oz can tomato paste
1c sour cream

1/2 c sliced black olives

1 8oz pckg egg noodles

1tbls butter or margarine

1 garlic clove, minced

3 8oz cans tomato sauce

1/2tsp black pepper

1 8oz pckg cream cheese, softened

3/4c chopped green onions

2c shredded cheese

In large skillet combine ground beef, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar, tomato sauce & tomato paste.  Bring to a boil-stirring to break up meat. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes; stirring occasionally. In bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, onions and olives. Cook noodles in boiling , salted water according to package directions. Drain in a collander & toss with butter. Spoon about one cup of meat-tomato mixture in the bottom of a greased, shallow (13x8x2 inches) 2qt casserole dish. Spread noodles evenly on top. Cover noodles completely with meat-tomato mixture first & then the cream cheese mixture. Top all with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in a preheated 350 oven 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.

If you take out the cream cheese a few hours before you start making this dish it softens it up enough to mix well with the sour cream or you can cube the cream cheese & microwave for 10 seconds at a time until softened. I personally use low fat or fat free ingredients & ground turkey when making this. I have made the dish both ways & have had no complaints. Enjoy!