Comfort Food Challenge Update: Battle Chicken Pot Pie and 'Casserole Crazy'
It may not be as hotly contested as, say the upcoming presidential election, but when votes were counted a few weeks ago for the Food Bloggers’ Challenge, chicken pot pie beat out lasagna by a single vote. (Check out the final results post on Capital Cooking.)
This means that I’ll face off with four other DC-area foodies on November 2 to make my best chicken pot pie. A panel of judges will rate our efforts, and a winner will be crowned. You’ll be able to see the results when the episode airs — details TBD.
In the meantime, I’ll be brushing up. How timely that Casserole Crazy, a cookbook compiling a slew of comforting, one-pot recipes, just arrived at my door. There’s no classic chicken pot pie — I’ll be heavy on improvisation with my competitive recipe, anyway — but there is an entire chapter devoted to macaroni and cheese. Yippee!
I haven’t gotten through the whole thing yet, but the book is a trip down memory lane (especially if you hail from the Midwest — Tater Tot Turkey Casserole and Chili-Cheese Corn Dog Casserole, anyone?). Most of the recipes are fairly simple and short, as a casserole should be.
As the weather turns cool, I know I’ll be trying dishes like Basil Mac (pasta layered with pesto and bechamel), Spicy Curry Dip, and the Simple Lentil Bake.
If you’re interested in learning more about the book, check out author Emily Farris’s site here.
Casserole Crazy (pre-order it from Amazon here)
By Emily Farris
Copyright 2008 - Penguin, NY
ISBN: 9781557885357
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By Alison L. McConnell
Alison L. McConnell is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. A native of New Jersey and upstate New York, she attended Bowdoin College in Maine and the London School of Economics before settling in Washington, where she works as a financial reporter, food freelancer, and studies at L’Academie de Cuisine. Some of her favorite things to make are risottos, roast chickens, and cakes. She abides by a long-standing family motto: McConnells always finish their desserts.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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