Tuna-Noodle Casserole

Another recipe from my Blue Ribbon Country Cook Book.  This book really is fantastic.  My only complaint is that you'd better plan on spending around an hour to make a meal.  Anyhow, here we go.


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• $1 per pound
• 1/3 cup chopped celery
• $1.50 for around 10 stalks
• 1 cup mushrooms (I didn't use these)
• I package (probably about 2 cups or 10ish mushrooms) is $2
• White Sauce
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk (I use 2%)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• $2 for 32 ounces
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• $1 for a bottle
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard (I didn't have any, so I used cayenne pepper)
• 8 ounces of noodles
• 16 ounces is $.80
• A 9-ounce can of tuna (packed in water)
• $.40 - $80
• 15 ounces of peas (I didn't use these)
• Buttered Cracker Crumbs
• 6 crackers
• 1 tablespoon of butter

Utensils and Dishes:

• A large skillet
• 2 quart baking dish
• 2 medium sized pots
• A wooden spatula
• A spoon
• A strainer or something
• Large mixing bowl

Cost: $2.52 (there are a lot of little ingredients that I don't include, like the soy sauce)

People fed: 4 - 6

Cook time: around 60 minutes

Directions:

Start boiling some water for pasta.  While the water heats, put the butter in the skillet and start sauté-ing the onions, celery, and mushrooms.  Do so for about 2 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 350 and oil the baking pan.

White Sauce: combine the milk, flour, pepper, and salt.  Melt the butter and add it to the milk/flour.  Stir.  Heat the mixture until it is almost boiling (but don't let it boil).  Stir continuously.

Add the mayo, say sauce, and dry mustard to the White Sauce and continue to heat.  Add the vegetables (and the pan juices).  Mix well and remove from heat.

Put the noodles and sauce/vegetable mixture into the large mixing bowl and stir.  Drain the tuna and add.  If you so desire, add the peas at this point.  After it is well mixed, put into the baking pan.  Cover with buttered cracker crumbs (crumble 6 crackers and let them soak in melted butter).  Bake for 35 minutes.