Thanksgiving at our house is all fresh, made from scratch, nothing from boxes or cans, but certainly includes sour-creamy garlic mashed potatoes and lots and lots and lots of gravy. On this day, no one is vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or anything-ian or they go hungry. (We do not pander to anyone's crazy, bound-to-fail diet.)
BUT, we do have one absolutely artery-clogging dish that I cringe to share, but we can't do without -- broccoli cheese dish. Yes, it might as well be made from by-products of the rubber plant, but it's generally the first thing to go:
2 bags (1 lb+) frozen broccoli pieces
1 lb brick of Velveeta cheese cut up into small chunks
1 (entire) stick of butter
1 stack of Ritz crackers rolled into crumbs (or pulsed in a food processor to resemble dust)
If you're not gagging yet... Cook the broccoli according to package directions (but no salt) and drain. Over low heat, add the cheese chunks and butter and melt together with the broccoli pieces. Mix in half (or a little more) of the cracker crumbs. Remove from heat and pat into the casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cracker crumbs on top of the mixture. Bake before serving for 30 minutes at 300 (just to get things a bit bubbly and brown on top, not because any of the ingredients actually require heat for any culinary purpose). Due to its possibly radioactive properties, this dish can safely be made up to a year ahead of time.
You're welcome.
Our broccoli dish has cheese but is very different. My DH would likely, love yours more. His mom used Velveeta, mine did not, so he likes the stuff and I don't.
My godfather Al used to make this, he shared the recipe with me prior to his death in a plane crash 23 years ago this past June. Broccoli isn't my favorite, but I make it every Thanksgiving and Christmas just to remind me of him, and how he used to make us laugh so much when we were in the kitchen with him.
His wife gifted me with his cowboy boots, the ones he bought just to attend our wedding. He and my dad split the bride/daughter dance, they were best friends.
Some years, I dig them out of the closet and make the casserole while wearing them. Although they are about 3 sizes too big. Holidays are the perfect time to remember those we love and set an extra plate for them.
Fresh cut and trimmed steamed/drained broccoli (as much as you want to eat, traditionally 2 heads)
let drain and place in a greased casserole dish in a single layer
in a separate bowl combine cottage cheese, freshly grated cheddar, s/p and one egg, mix, sprinkle in some bread crumbs.
Layer that on top of the broccoli and lightly press down.
Take a bowl with more bread crumbs and stir in melted butter, press that on top of the casserole and lightly press down
bake at 350 until golden and bubbly in the center
I don't know the exact measurements, I just do it by eye. If you want more cheese, add more grated cheese or use something other than cheddar. If you need to double it, do, just make sure you add another egg to help it bind.
Every single year, my husband looks at me and says, "why do we only get this at Christmas and Thanksgiving?".