This Weather Calls for Comfort Food...Broccoli Cheddar Casserole

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What is it about cold weather that makes you crave good old comfort food, the one your mother used to make when you were young?  Last night I craved Lima beans and corn, something I used to despise when they served it in boarding school!  Not anymore...

Comfort food to me is meatloaf, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, pot roast,  Mac and Cheese, and all those canned soup casseroles my mother used to make in the 60's and the 70's.  Plain and simple, no need to gild the lily.  I have Junior League cookbooks full of casserole recipes from practically every city in the U.S.  For chicken, tuna, zucchini, squash (my favorite) broccoli ,whatever.  Poor broccoli got a bum rap from the first President Bush when he declared he didn't like it.  My mother, at the tender age of 85, has declared she doesn't really like it either...really? After all the broccoli you made me eat  because it was soo good for me and would make me grow like trees?! Seriously now, what is it with broccoli and old people!

Well, in complete defiance of my mother, I am making one tonight, straight from the archives of Campbell's Soup.  That and breaded pork chops with Mott's applesauce...Chocolate pudding anyone???

P.S. I promise to go back to tapas tomorrow, unless we have another casserole emergency due to the cold weather!

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup 

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoon yellow mustard (I use Dijon)

1 bag (16 ounces) frozen broccoli flowerets, thawed*

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

1/3 cup dry bread crumbs*

2 teaspoon butter, melted

Directions

Stir the soup, milk, mustard, broccoli and cheese in a 1 1/2-quart casserole.

Stir the bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the broccoli mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling.

Cook's Note
You can use fresh broccoli,  First cook it for about 10 mins.
You can substitute the breadcrumbs with 1 cup crushed cheez-its or Riz crackers.  Add the melted butter on top.