Each Tuesday I will be exploring a new location to satisfy my wanderlust while my feet remain firmly planted on Canadian soil. I’m so excited! I hope you’ll join me in these new adventures.
My passport is currently being updated, so I am unable to venture very far. Ah, who am I kidding? Even if my passport was in my wallet, I am putting travel on hold for a few more months at least. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take my tastebuds on a trip. And this week, it’s a trip through time!
I swear I’m not a nerd. I’m not into Star Trek or video games. I would never go to ComicCon. But I have my fair share of nerdy friends. And I love them. All are welcome here:)
No, where I’d like to go this Travel Tuesday is the 1970s! The decade of my birth, the unmistakable style that stretched through the early 80s when I was still young but remember it well–the tupperware jello moulds, Tops ‘n Trends velour jumpsuits our Mums used to wear, t-shirts with iron on designs…
And tuna noodle casserole!
When else are you allowed, as a child, to have potato chips in your dinner? Certainly not in my house. Except when tuna casserole was on the menu. Ah…good times.
The soft noodles, meaty tuna, bright green peas (or broccoli–a nice alternative). What about the creamy soup sauce with those big chunks of mushroom, my fave! and of course, the chips on top–crispy with select bits soggy from the soup. Who came up with this recipe in the first place? Genius!
Oh dear. I’ve just consulted Wikipedia–the definitive information source on the ‘net (right Nick?) and it turns out Tuna Casserole first came out of the oven in the 50s…Well…thanks to Grandma for passing it down? Or Mum’s home Ec teacher?
I guess it doesn’t really matter. This meal is awesome. It tastes great, it’s cheap to make, it’s a fairly balanced meal, and it reminds me of my childhood. I think the memories of it mixed together with the rest of the ingredients make it even more enjoyable now than when I was a kid. Go figure.
What’s your favourite childhood meal? Or memory of food? Let’s be kids again, if only at the dinner table.
And don’t forget to include your suggestions for the next location I should take my tastebuds…My palate is living through your travel dreams!
Comments (16)
Love, LOVE tuna noodle casserole! Looks like your presentation has done this classic dish justice. Kudos!
Thanks Bill, me too! And it’s been too long since I’ve pulled it out of the recipe vault. Must keep it in the regular rotation until the weather heats up.
I still cook tuna casserole but I’ve never had the chips – I must try this. Favourite childhood meals all ended with boiled tinned chocolate pudding! Can’t remember the meals probably some sort of roast or boiled savaloy sausages.
Mel
Spray the dish with cooking spray and spread a thin layer of chips on the bottom. Add the tuna mixture to half way and add some more chips. Fill up to the top with tuna mixture and add more on top. I reserve some extra mushroom soup like 1/4-1/2 cup to pour over the entire dish to add more moisture. Omg amazing.
I never had tuna casserole — we always had chicken noodle casserole instead. And instead of potato chips, we used crushed up Ritz crackers on top. But everything else — from the mushroom soup to the peas — is the same! It’s still one of my favorite meals to make, especially if I’m in need of something comforting to eat.
That sounds delicious too! I’ll have to try your version next time.
Love it! Your dishes are time travelling 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Yummmmmmmmm!!!!!!!
Oh boy, does that look good or what? Fantastic Melanie, and it makes me really, really, really want tuna casserole. I can assure you that rarely happens, but mine never looks this good. I wish we were neighbors… 🙂
Traveling in time is so fun!!
Tuna noodle casserole actually had its start in the ’50s when ‘cooking from cans’ was the height of elegant leisure 😉 Our moms made it; we were still making it for our kids in the ’70s and early ’80s, and then tastes changed….
Thanks Debbie! I say we bring back cooking from cans. If only once a week to give ourselves a break:)
Ooh that looks ghetto. In a good way. Love it!
You should go to…somewhere sexy and tropical next. Tequila ought to be involved.
Ooh tequila. I like where your head’s at!
Great blog! I love that you travel from country to country, but through time as well. I have a bit of a passion for food of long ago. Not that any of us needs to diet, but have you seen this hilarious blog that has Weight Watchers recipes from the 70s? http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html
Cheers and good luck with 365 days of dining!
What a great link! That’s a really great idea, recreating old time recipes…
Thanks for your good wishes. You’ll be coming along with me if I go!
Awesome!