Turkey not tuna no bake casserole

No bake tuna casserole – no wait, a no bake turkey casserole.  I don’t know what came over me.  Guess I was tired and Mr. Mike was at his evening class, so it was time to cook wierd and easy.  As you’ll see, substitutions were made, but cookbook recipes are meant to be guides only not set in stone.  This one came from Believe It! Quick and Easy Meal Solutions (2008).

8 oz penne, elbow, or bowtie pasta

1 1/2 cups frozen vegetables (I used cut green beans & mixed vegetables)

1/4 to 1/2 cup milk (I used skim)

6 oz cream cheese (can use 1/3 reduced fat or regular)

1 12 oz can tuna, drained & broken into chunks (I used cooked diced turkey from the freezer in place of tuna)

Salt & black pepper to taste

1 tsp Fines Herbs (my addition, choose your own herb mixture)

Cook pasta according to package directions.  If desired, add frozen vegetables during the last 4 minutes of cooking.  Drain and return to pan.  I microwaved the vegetables in a separate container because cooking pasta and veggies together is too much even for me.  Also don’t like tossing nutrients with the pasta water.  I kept about 2 Tbsp pasta water in the pan to help melt the cheese.  Add the milk and stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and the pasta and vegetables are coated.  Add seasonings.  Fold in turkey (or tuna) and heat through.  Makes four servings.  Cooking & prep time: 20 minutes.

More recipes to share in the next several days.  I’ve been writing Christmas cards and getting some legal materials together.  I liked this casserole because there is little cleanup and it’s one of the few tuna casserole recipes that isn’t baked.

This is what the scrounge cats did while I was cooking.

Turkey is boring. Wake us when it's tuna