When I was a young bride, I bought a green plastic box that held 3×5 cards. I diligently collected recipes from family and friends. I clipped recipes from magazines and glued them to cards from time to time. Recipe cards often arrived in the mail, or attached to newspaper inserts or products in the supermarket. Along the way, I learned from repetition what recipes worked and what didn’t. When I became more adept at cooking, I rarely looked at a recipe. Nowadays, we have this magic little device we keep in our pockets that will give you ANY recipe for ANY dish ever made. I don’t have any idea where that little box ended up. But, I love the memories I conjure up as a newlywed learning her way.

Mr. FixIt had a procedure yesterday which has him enjoying his Big Red Chair a bit more than usual. There were a couple of errands we needed to attend to before we headed home. I’m always thinking fifteen steps ahead so I decided to make tuna noodle casserole for supper. That’s because I sat in the waiting room working on a teddy bear I knitted and thought of that little green box and tried to remember what my favorite inexpensive go-to casserole was.

I think my first cooking class was a summer camp at the Vienna Community Building. I specifically remember making Green Bean Casserole…something I have NEVER liked. Tuna Noodle isn’t a very big stretch from there. I made it in many iterations, including one with turkey after the holidays. We affectionately called it “Turkey Tetrawhatzit.” As I picked up a few things at the grocery, I threw a bag of frozen peas in the cart and headed back out to the truck.

When we got home, I got Mr. FixIt settled in his chair and started supper. I was absolutely certain I had tuna in the pantry but I did not. I did have salmon, and if I could make Tuna Casserole with turkey, I could make it with salmon in a can. Add in the noodles, a can of evaporated milk and a cup of chicken broth, a cup of frozen peas, a can of salmon (drained), a little onion and garlic, salt and pepper. Mixed together and placed in a greased 8×10 casserole dish, topped with buttered breadcrumbs and grated cheese. Baked for 30 minutes in a 350° oven and…voila…

Salmon Tetrawhatzit!!!

SO good! Comfort food that brings up warm memories is a perfect way to end a day of loving on your hubby. And, the fact that there are leftovers for today?

Priceless!

🩵

”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.“

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV