Pineapple Casserole

 

Pineapple, Cheese, Cracker Casserole

The Good, The ‘Not Too Bad’ & The Pretty Darn Tasty, Wah, Wah, Wah!

You just might love it, Yo, Yo, Echo!

(You probably need to watch the video below to get that one)

This version of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is very well done. Take a listen, it’s very good. You’ll get a kick out of some of it but it is also quite beautiful music.

Pineapple Casserole

(Paula Deen’s version)

https://www.pauladeen.com/recipe/pineapple-casserole/

Some time ago, maybe even as long as a few years ago, my husband brought home a recipe that a customer gave him. She told him to bring it home to me and give it a try.   I had misplaced it (now found and in it’s place) but remembered that it was some type of baked pineapple dish. Now, all this time later, I started thinking about that recipe and wondering what it was. There are also times, like this, that I just start to ponder  ‘I wonder about making a recipe for, wait, I wonder if there is a recipe for ______________ (fill in the blanks). And then, lo and behold, voila, bingo, there is such a recipe!  I have created some of my own recipes, often by improvising and creating substitutions making it a revised or brand new recipe. My Aunt B recently shared one of her  improvisational recipes. Sometimes those creative recipes turn out to be favorites.  But when you want to try something new, you only have to think of it and… it is there! Almost like having a Genie in a bottle!  I still will never get to all of the recipes that I already have before I go to the afterlife but I still search out my ideas and try those that I find interesting. I hope that we cook in the afterlife, but we most likely won’t.  That gives me incentive to try as many recipes as possible!

I digress, but speaking of the afterlife, this casserole creation is Heavenly! It is just one of those quirky, and you might think odd, recipes that works. My husband did not think that he would be impressed by this dish but oh, was he ever! We both love it! I asked two of my sisters-in-law if they had ever made it. One of them said no but she had tried it at a pot luck dinner and fell in love with it!

To describe this casserole; a bit cheesy (no pun intended), crunchy from the pineapple chunks and cracker topping, sweet, savory, slightly tart and creamy. Doesn’t that tempt your taste buds?

One tip: Crush the crackers lightly, leaving some crumbs more coarse than others.

After the casserole had baked until it was almost done, I saw that the top of mine did not look the same as pictured in Paula’s recipe photo.  I crushed, in bigger pieces, more crackers to spread on the top. That did the trick. Next time I will not crush the crackers into a fine dust. I wasn’t really heavy handed nor frustrated. I make bread when I’m frustrated (or look for my ‘Damn It Doll’ that my mother gave me). I promise, that is what it’s called. Maybe I could rename it the ‘Dang it to High Heaven’ Doll’! Okay, I like that! Mom used expressions like that! She was sophisticated but oh… so funny!

Nope, two tips (and just when you thought we were done)!

Tip number two; a firm cheese grated coarsely adds texture. Sharp cheddar brings some snap to the flavor.

In these times of social distancing I have not distanced myself from adventures in the kitchen.  At least that hasn’t changed, however, there is change.

We have all experienced a lot of change, some more than others. Families have lost loved ones and could not share their loved ones’ final moments or have a proper funeral. My nephew passed away and we had to have a graveside service in lieu of a funeral. Fortunately we were just at the beginning of the state shut downs and there was a good turnout. I lost one of my beloved pets a few weeks ago and we could not be with him, making the weight of the loss so much heavier.

We are in a time of change unlike any other and looking for ways to make life feel meaningful. I hope that you are all finding a closeness with your loved ones, perhaps in ways that you hadn’t before, and that you stay hopeful for the future. Enjoy the time together, the joy and blessing of simple things and discoveries and experiences that make happy memories.

A lot of families are now cooking together or cooking together more often and trying new recipes. This recipe is very easy to put together.  If you’re looking for a new dish to try I hope you’ll try this one! Feel free to leave a comment of how you are making memories at home or mention a new recipe that you and your family have had fun making.

Until we meet again…

I hope these challenging times bring you blessings in disguise;

 That you are blessed simply,

And simply blessed!

Stay strong and hold on!

Mom always said…

‘Faith can move mountains’!

So very loved, so very missed! One of our borrowed Angels, gone home. 

~Vee