Thanksgiving (Giving Thanks…for the memories!)

As I begin to prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, I always include the quintessential casserole; a creamy mushroom soup that surrounds frozen green peas(or green string beans), topped with frozen onion rings and French’s crispy onions. Mixing this up in 3 minutes flat always make me smile as I remember my mother in her apron preparing this dish after she put “Tom” into the oven somewhere around 6 am.      It was the early 60’s when she was hooked by this easy Campbell’s recipe found on the can of the cream of mushroom soup. Although she never made anything from a can, especially vegetables, she became influenced by the Betty Crocker movement and the easy to prepare recipes. 
    This expected EPIC casserole became a tradition to savor. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving at my table if this dish wasn’t part of the fussin’ but really a no fuss. Some things that do change; the faces at the table, the fancy dishes like cream of pumpkin or butternut soup, roasted brussel sprouts instead of steamed, fresh cranberry sauce instead of canned, soaking “Tom” in fancy brine rather than table salt, and cooking the stuffing outside of the bird. 
    However, keep some traditions trusted and consistent. There can be many variations to this casserole but some things are best simply as they are! A bit unrefined for a gourmet cook, it still induces a salivating, overwhelming food nostalgia of my childhood Thanksgiving’s. Gather and give Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving! Give the gift of tradition. 

1 casserole dish
4 cans (10 ½ ounces) of Campbell’s condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup of milk or half & half 
Fresh black pepper
8 cups of frozen petite peas or green beans
1 package of frozen onion rings
1 1/3 cup Frenchy’s crispy onion

In casserole dish, combine the soup cans, milk, fresh black pepper, frozen peas (or string beans). Mix thoroughly and top with French’s crispy onions and frozen onion rings. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly and onion rings are golden brown. 
Enjoy Xoxo Dishin’ With Denise

Denise Gianatasio is a Northport Village resident and freelance writer. She is a licenced agent at Signature Premier
Properties, Platinum Circle of Excellence, 172 Main Street, Northport 631-754-3600. Denise enjoys cooking and sharing her recipes and family stories, as she wants to inspire a warm sense of home with her readers. Please feel free to contact her for any advice you may need at dishinwithdenise@yahoo.com.