My mother found the house of her dreams. She never wanted a rancher or bungalow, as it is called in the UK, but the real estate agent talked her into looking at it. It was perfect. Big, spacious, nice layout and a huge, basically unused kitchen. The previous owners moved into the house new, only 2 years prior, took off their shoes every time they walked into the house and not once cooked in the kitchen! It was a dream! Stainless steel appliances, big double oven and a fridge freezer that opened by pushing a button. Amazing stuff, considering this was 1968! The family selling the house had a daughter my age and she introduced me to quite a few of her friends before she moved. It was perfect, I had friends before our family even moved into the new house. This new adventure was going to be just fine!
As soon as we moved into the house, of course we met our neighbours. On one side was a couple with a grown son, two doors down was a family that had a son who was my age, on the corner was another couple who had grown children, but the best neighbour of all was the family on the other side of my new home! They were Judy and Mickey, a young married couple with 2 small children at the time. Myles was 3 and Stacy was only a baby. I became a babysitter pretty quickly and I loved every minute of it! Not too long down the road, Shari was born! All three of the kids were at our house constantly. They loved my mother's cookie jar and they called my parents Aunt Faye & Uncle Yummy! If they weren't at our house, I was over their house.
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| Shari at my house with my little cousins, Shari at the duck pond, Mickey & Judy 1976 |
Judy was very cool! She was like my big big sister. My real big sister was away at university and Judy who was older than my sister Debbie, stepped in as a surrogate sister when Debbie was away. Judy was beautiful, very entertaining, incredibly gracious, selfless, talented and an all around wonderful person. She became my confidante. We both stopped biting our nails together, she tried to teach me to sew, but to no avail. She helped influence me in many ways! She inspired me when it came to cooking as she was a fabulous cook! She was one of my mentors.
As I became older, we became good friends. They moved away from our old neighbourhood, but we never lost touch. Our relationship changed. I was now married with children of my own. She still was a mentor to me, a confidante, but most of all, Judy was an inspiration!
Judy became very ill and suffered for many years from complications due to breast cancer. A few years before she died, she and Mickey visited the UK. She was in such pain, but she still went sightseeing, kept a smile on her face and soldiered on. She was so uncomfortable sitting, ate nothing, but just went along happily. Judy never cried. She never showed that vulnerable side to herself, but yet, when she said goodbye to me, she hugged me and sobbed! We both did! It was a moment that will stay with me forever. We both thought we would never see each other again. We did though, a couple of years later. She made my husband and I lunch at her beautiful home. She again was in such pain, but she did it all. She laid a beautiful table and made a scrumptious lunch, always with her shortcut recipes. I cleared the table and washed the dishes much to Judy's dismay. She always wanted to do it all! I insisted despite her protestations and I won. While I was cleaning we talked and we talked and we talked. She told me she was nervous about her next doctor's appointment. She said she always feared what they would find. Again, we welled up.
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| Judy, Mickey & me 2007 |
Before I left, Judy found and gave me some of her old recipes that I had asked for, some favourites of mine. One she had completely forgotten about, but I didn't. It was her Italian Broccoli Casserole. I could still see her making it and I remember the first time eating it at their house. I remember her lining up the broccoli spears in two neat rows in the baking pan! I remember me making it as a teenager and my mother made it frequently. It was scrummy and it made me love broccoli! She found the recipe along with others and gave them to me. Some she posted to me! I have these and cherish them! This was the last time I ever saw Judy! She passed away not very long after. I was so pleased I got to see her one last time. She will live on with me forever because she had such an influence on me. She was the first grown up that I really got to know that oozed coolness and greatness! I miss her so much but I am so honoured that she shared a huge part of my life! This recipe is made for you Judy with lots of love! Thank you for everything and thank you Shari for inspiring me to share this recipe and for sharing so many of Judy's recipes on your own blog http://www.myjudythefoodie.com/
I had to tweak the recipe in several different ways because some of the ingredients are not available in the UK. It still tastes as delicious, but it isn't quite as simple as her version. It's still very easy though!
First I will give you my version, after I will share the original!
ITALIAN BROCCOLI CASSEROLE -The Yummy Yank Way
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C/Gas Mark 4
Ingredients:
1 Kilo Bag Frozen Broccoli
2 Extra Large Eggs beaten
2 x 35g packages Colman's Four Cheese Sauce Mix
1 Pint/600ml skimmed/semi skimmed milk
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning ( I used a blend including oregano, garlic, basil, sea salt & pepper)
1/8 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
2 x 400g Napolina Chopped Tomatoes with Herbs - drain very well.
Homemade bread crumbs made from 2 day old sourdough bread mixed with seasoning to taste
1/3 c grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook frozen broccoli in microwave according to the directions on the bag or until broccoli is tender. Drain well.
Make the cheese sauce according to packet instructions. Empty the sachets into a saucepan. Pour a little of the milk into the pan and mix. Stir in remaining milk and bring to the boil, stirring continuously. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from stovetop and set aside to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, combine eggs, the Italian seasoning mixture and Tabasco. Add a little of the cooled cheese sauce and mix so you don't get scrambled eggs. Add the rest of the cheese sauce and stir until combined. Next stir in the tomatoes and broccoli. Pour the entire mixture into a 9"x12"x2" baking dish, sprinkle the desired amount of bread crumbs over the top, add the Parmesan cheese, top with some more bread crumbs and season with a little more salt and pepper.
Bake the casserole, uncovered, in a 350 degree F/ 180 degree C/ Gas Mark 4 oven for about 30 minutes or until heated through completely. Makes about 6 to 8 servings.
**FYI, I am making this with a corned beef/salt beef brisket and mashed potatoes for tonight's dinner! YUM!!**
Recipe for the original Italian Broccoli Casserole:
2 x 10 oz packages frozen broccoli
2 beaten eggs
1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/8 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 x 9 ounce can stewed tomatoes, cut up
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook frozen broccoli in unsalted boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Drain well.
Combine eggs, Cheddar cheese soup, crushed Italian seasoning and Tabasco. Stir in stewed tomatoes and broccoli. Turn the broccoli/cheese mixture into a baking dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake the casserole, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until heated through completely.
**FYI, initially I bought an Asda brand jar of cheese sauce, thinking I could substitute this for the soup which is not available here in the UK. I tasted it first and it was not good, so opted for the Colman's mixture.**
I hope you enjoy this very easy delicious recipe from my childhood, first made for me by my very dear friend. I also hope that this recipe creates some of your own memories and makes you smile like it does me!
As always, have a nice day y'all and thanks for reading!
Lisa (aka The Yummy Yank)
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