Casseroles on Bruce loves to cook

Vegetarian lasagna

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This was our kids’ first and favourite lasagna, and we used it as a vessel to hide vegetables in.

Mechanic

Eggs in the cheese filling bind the layers together so the lasagna cuts cleanly as a casserole. Draining the ricotta and cottage cheese if they’re watery prevents the lasagna from going soupy. The 20-minute rest after baking is non-negotiable: the layers need time to set before cutting.

Baked mac & cheese

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This is a classic baked mac and cheese. You can sub in pretty much any combo of cheese, though some are better than others: cheddar, Jack, and something like Gruyère or Edam make a great base, or you can lean towards a creamier sauce with provolone, smoked Gouda, and Edam. I’ve seen people use cream cheese, but it doesn’t add much flavour (provolone or mozzarella gets a similar effect while adding some needed funk).

Spaghetti squash boats (or casserole)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This dish is great when spaghetti squash is in season.

Both Grandma Rempel and my sister, Teresa, eat Spaghetti Squash Boats (Grandma) or Spaghetti Squash Casserole (Teresa) on a weekly basis! So we wanted to give it a try. The concepts are pretty much the same and both have room for variations.

The anything casserole

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

You can make pretty much any leftovers into a casserole. This works especially well with large holiday dinner leftovers, or family-style takeout for American/Chinese, Indian, Thai, and similar cuisines.

Ingredients

2–3 cups cooked, seasoned protein, such as:
- turkey or chicken
- minced beef (cottage pie)
- lentils or chili (vegetarian cottage pie)
- breakfast eggs (can be made vegetarian)
- stir-fried pork, curry, and so on
1–2 cups gravy, matched to the protein
2–3 cups mashed potatoes
2–3 cups vegetables, from dinner or a frozen mix
½ cup grated cheese (optional)

Method

Layer the protein and gravy in a baking dish. Cover with the vegetables, spread the potatoes over top, and sprinkle with cheese.