The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever [Paperback]

Beatrice Ojakangas (Author), Susie Cushner (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

A good cook once said that a casserole is a blend of inspiration and what's on hand. Beatrice Ojakangas must have had inspiration by the gallon to come up with these 500 casseroles. From a breakfast of Eggs Florentine to a dinner of Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing, soon even the most casserole-wary cook will be dishing about these delights. Yummy treats like Parmesan and Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp are just right for parties. Even appetizers are reinvented in casserole form! The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever will inspire comforting dishes and innovative feasts for any meal of the dayno matter what's in the fridge.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beatrice Ojakangas has written over 20 cookbooks. She teaches cooking classes in her home near Duluth, Minnesota.

Susie Cushner is a Boston-based photographer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Original edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811856240
• ISBN-13: 978-0811856249
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure trove of great casserole recipes, June 19, 2009

By 

Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever (Paperback)

Some people have claimed to be turned off by this book because it has a couple of recipes that use Hormel Spam as an ingredient. I think that's a joke by the author, Beatrice Ojakangas, that backfired: she lives in Minnesota, the state where Spam is manufactured. It is, not surprisingly, pretty popular in the state. But I guess not everyone gets the joke.

Aside from that, this book very well lives up to its title as "The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever".

Ojakangas opens with a history of the casserole and again incorporates her Minnesota background by explaining that the casserole in those parts is called a "hot dish". I have consumed many a "hot dish" at gatherings in Minnesota. And many a casserole at home, where such dishes are a favorite in a busy household.

This book already has lots of pages flagged - because it is loaded with great recipes. We had one this week, a chicken noodle casserole, that was absolutely scrumptious.

After an introduction to the basics of casseroles (e.g., sauces, etc.), she moves into the goodies: 16 chapters of yummies. (I admit to not liking fish and shellfish, but I include that chapter in the count anyway.)

Appetizers & First Courses
No-Knead Casserole Breads
Breakfasst & Brunch Casseroles
Poultry Casseroles
Beef Casseroles
Pork Casseroles
Lamb, Veal & Game Casseroles
Pasta Casseroles
Grain & Legume Casseroles
Fish & Shellfish Casseroles
Side-Dish Casseroles
Vegetarian Casseroles
Casseroles For Crowds
Casseroles For Kids
Dessert Casseroles.

More than 500 recipes, many of them that set my mouth watering at first reading.

Most of the recipes are reasonably simple and quick to prepare. Lots of fun new (to me) things to try like a No-Egg Breakfast Potato Hot Dish and a Curried Chicken Breast Casserole.

A couple of small negatives. The recipes are printed in a reddish ink and somewhat difficult to read. There aren't enough illustrations. Neither of these is a show stopper.

Overall, a great treasure for those who like "hot dishes" or, as the rest of the country calls them, casseroles. And having written this review and browsed the recipes once more, I'm hungry. Fortunately, I can look forward to the Ancho Chicken Breast With Corn for dinner tomorrow night.

Jerry

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Casserole Cookbook!, November 4, 2008

By 

K. Denton "savvy shopper" (Tucson, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever (Paperback)

This is a big book. The last recipie is on page 609, so there are lots to choose from. There is a wide range of choice, from appetizers to desserts, with more chapters on breads, side-dishes, "for crowds", "for two", and "for kids". Just browsing through, many sound delicious. The ones I have made were indeed very tasty. Ms. Ojakangas uses few prepared ingredients, and includes a recipie section of easy sauces to substitute for canned cream soups. One of the things I like best is that the author is health aware. The recipies are light on sodium, and many are light on fat. I plan to make a lot of these, and am looking forward to working my way through this book.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Casserole Cookbook, October 4, 2008

By 

P. Johnson "User" (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever (Paperback)

Overwhelming amount of info, many interesting meals. The details are what make this worth buying. Chapter on no-knead casserole bread, including the much vaunted NY Times method, is worth the $16.xx price.