December 6

Song for a Winter's Night

sung by one of Canada's finest:

Gordon Lightfoot

It's a chilly one out there today, with more snow in the forecast. So what better fare to serve for dinner than a hearty, wholesome one-dish meal, entitled "Casserole for a Cold Night"? This heavenly concoction is one of my girlies' favourites, and freezes like a dream... Double the recipe, and prepare an extra to pull out for supper over the Christmas holidays!

Casserole for a Cold Night

from "The Best of Bridge" cookbook series

1 lb extra lean ground beef

One 7 1/2 oz can of tomato sauce

1 garlic clove, minced (I use a garlic press, instead)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tsp white sugar

One 14 oz can of tomatoes (I like the ones with Italian seasoning)

3 c broad egg noodles, cooked and drained

4 oz light cream cheese, cut in cubes

1 c sour cream

6 green onions, chopped finely

1 1/2 c grated old cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large, deep skillet, brown the beef, and drain off all fat. Add the tomato sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar and tomatoes. Cover the pan, and let the mixture simmer over low heat for about 45 minutes.

Cook and drain the noodles, then while they are still hot, combine them with the cubed cream cheese (give it a gentle stir, to help the cheese melt a bit). Add the sour cream and green onions.

In a greased, 3-quart baking dish, layer the meat sauce, noodle mixture and cheddar cheese alternately. Top with extra grated cheddar. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Serve with a nice, crisp green salad, and a beautiful bottle of red wine...

Enjoy. And keep warm, everybody!