Sep 20, 2011

Dependable Me

A "Question of the Day" on a recipe forum I frequent was: "if a movie was made about your life, what would the title be?"


Being the type of person who can't come up with good responses on the fly, I didn't answer the question that day. 


My best replies are Seinfeldian.  Always in the car.  Alone.  Three to four days later.
But I have it.  My title.  No.  Not Jerk Store. 
Dependable Me.

I'm dependable.  Like a dog.  A loyal, there-when-you-need, ignore-me-when-you-don't faithful dog.  Don't we all feel that way now and then?

Sometimes I'm tired of being "the responsible one."  I've been called that and acted the part my entire life.  Tired of being typecast. It's gettin' pretty old.

Sometimes I don't want to be the "go to" girl.  I really want to be the "go away" girl.

Dependable can be so boring.  So steady.  So always.

I'm feeling pretty sucked dry lately (did ya notice?) and needed something I could depend on.

Cheesy, creamy vegetables never let me down.

Even more reliable & accessible--
I use frozen California-style mixed vegetables.  Easy, quick, and perfect for this fresh vegetable limbo time of year.

Add a classic cheese sauce that starts with a roux.
I can always depend on stirring roux to

make me happy.

Top it off with Parmesan and paprika.

Sitting down to this on my plate is like walking through the door finding my dog waiting for me in her usual spot.
You know, dependable.


Printer Friendly

Vegetable au Gratin

3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
heaping 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 1/4 c milk, warmed
3/4-1 c shredded sharp cheddar
1 (16 oz) package California Style mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots), thawed, cut apart pieces if large (optional)
Grated Parmesan cheese for topping
paprika for topping


Preheat oven to 350.
Melt butter.  Add flour, salt, and mustard.  Cook over low heat, stirring, until bubbly.  Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a boil.  Lower to a simmer and cook until smooth and thickened.  Turn off the heat and add the cheddar cheese.  Stir until cheese is melted.  Fold in the thawed vegetables.  Pour into a buttered 8" x 8" casserole dish.  Sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan then paprika.  Bake for about 30 minutes.  If you'd like, place under the broiler to brown the top. 



Linking up with:
Love Bakes Good Cakes
Tuesdays at the Table @ All The Small Stuff
Tasty Tuesday @ Naptime Creations
Hearth and Soul vol 66 @ Mom's Sunday Cafe
Tuesdays Tasty Tidbits @ Permanent Posies
Let's Do Brunch @ The 21st Century Housewife
Family Time Tuesday @ Celebrating Family

What's Cooking Thursdays @ Feeding Four
Turning the Table Thursday @ Around My Family Table
Simply Delish @ KB & Whitesnakes Home
Potluck Friday @ EKat's Kitchen
Friday Food @ Mom Trends

And joining Dishing It Up (casserole month)

Thrifty Texas Penny

17 comments:

  1. This is comfort food at its finest! It's dependably delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh dear...it's too bad we don't live closer because I always feel like the dependable one too. It's a wonderful quality and all, but I feel like I'm always getting taken advantage of. Makes me feel like being an undependable rebel!! lol!

    A nice cheesy casserole is always comforting and you always know it's going to taste great. This is a dish you can always count on:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The recipe looks delicious and your movie title I can so relate to. I'm feeling pretty sucked dry lately myself ::sigh::

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cheesy veggies makes awesome dinner. Love to try this. Thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop.

    ReplyDelete
  5. DITTO, DITTO, DITTO! Feel the same way. What a great dish. We always go for the flash frozen freezer when we can't find what we want fresh. The only cans we buy are sometimes beans and tomatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ugh I definitely know how you feel! I wish you lived next door (or even in the same state) cause then we could depend on each other!

    At least we always have veggies and cheese. That's something, right?

    ReplyDelete
  7. yum! This would be perfect for a chilly night when I dont know what else to fix for dinner. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yeah... I can relate. I was told by a guy one time that I was "The kind of girl" he'd want to marry... you know, but not want to DATE... as in, well, if you wouldn't date me then I wouldn't MARRY YOU. I mean, it was really a compliment but one of those that makes you feel conflicted. Of course, I wouldn't want to be the "other" kind of girl either but still. Come on. Wanted to look at him and go, well, why in the WORLD would you think a girl like me would EVER want to marry, settle, really, for a guy like you? And I always come up with my responses much, much later too. I'm a thinker and need the time. Isn't it great how food helps us through the emotional moments in life?

    ReplyDelete
  9. These veggies look great! I too love cheese sauces... and rouxes and watching the colors change.

    You know, it's funny, I tried being the not go-to girl for a while, and I really didn't like it. That said, I learned it can be nice to say "no" from time to time. :)

    Thanks so much for linking these up to Friday Potluck! (Oh, I know you haven't yet, but the words are there, and FP will post tonight at 11:15 Eastern... and now you have a lead on everyone else.) :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love any vegetable and cheese combo and yours looks delcious. I love veggies by themselves too but...nothing is better than adding a little cheese. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow! This looks delish! I would love it if you would link this up to my carnival Family Time Tuesday

    Janice

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is great, I love coming across recipes that use everyday foods and yet are overly delicious! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous9/26/2011

    I've always thought most things in life are better with cheese!

    Thanks for linking up with Momtrends this week!

    ~Shannon, Food Channel Editor, Momtrends.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love this recipe - easy, cheesy, delicious and good for you! Thank you for sharing it with Let's Do Brunch.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this :) Simple to make, with less ingredients. Full of veggies and their goodness!

    -Divya
    http://www.tastyvegcooking.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. A roux makes everyone happy! :) This looks so wonderfully dependable and delicious. Thanks for sharing at Dishing It Up!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This recipe looks yummy! Can't wait to try it with my family :) Thank you for sharing with Dishing It Up this week!!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments.