Sandy Damatos Tuna Noodle Casserole Lighter Food

SANDY D'AMATO'S TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook noodles, then drain and cool. Set aside.
• Place medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter and, when melted, add onion and celery. Sweat 4 minutes.
• Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes - do not brown.
• Add bay leaf, dry mustard, milk and shipping cream and bring to a boil while whipping.
• Add Worcestershire sauce, salt pepper, and hot pepper sauce and simmer 2 minutes.
• Add the grainy mustard, peas and cheese and remove from heat. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Toss reserved noodles with tuna.
• Add lemon juice, dill, olives and the reserved sauce.
• Place in a 9x9-inch or 11x7-inch baking dish and sprinkle with topping. Bake in preheated oven 25 to 30 minutes until hot, bubbly and crisp on top.
• TOPPING: Combine all ingredients and mix well.

SANDY D'AMATO'S TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE (LIGHTER)

Steps:

• Cook noodles, then drain in collinder and cool. Set aside.
• In same pot, melt margarine over medium heat. When melted add onion and celery. Sweat 4 minutes.
• Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes - do not brown.
• Add bay leaf, dry mustard, skim milk and half and half and bring to a boil while stirring.
• Add Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce and simmer 2 minutes.
• Add the grainy mustard, peas and cheese and remove from heat. Stir till chesse is melted. Add lemon juice, dill, stir.
• Add noodles and tuna to the sauce and mix throughly.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Place in a 9x9-inch or 11x7-inch baking dish and sprinkle with chips and cheese. Lightly spritz with cooking spray.
• Bake in preheated oven 25 to 30 minutes until hot, bubbly and crisp on top.

LIGHT TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Sauté onions, celery and peppers until onions are transparent.
• Add all of the ingredients (except the noodles and parmesan) and heat over medium until the cheddar melts.
• Add the noodles, mix well, and turn into a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and an equal amount of dried bread crumbs, if you would like. Bake at 425 F for 20 minutes.

TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9-by-13 or other 3-quart casserole dish with butter.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until just al dente. (Do not overcook.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the celery and onion, season with salt and cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the capers and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until no streaks of flour remain, about 1 minute, reducing the heat as necessary to keep from scorching. Add the stock, half-and-half, sherry, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the sauce has thickened slightly, 5 to 7 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the tuna, peas and parsley, if using; season to taste.
• Add the cooked noodles and toss well. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle the crushed potato chips on top and bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Garnish with additional parsley, if using, and serve hot.