Fall is a fantastic season in Nova Scotia, mother nature is on full display and the weather is just right to be outside enjoying it! Casseroles are a great way to warm your family up after a cool crisp fall day. I don’t make casseroles nearly enough, not sure why, perhaps they get a bad rap as a practical use for leftovers? I think I’ll try making a few this fall!

A good casserole can be as simple canned soup, rice and fresh ingredients or as complicated as a French Cassoulet, no matter what you create on with, it is sure to be hearty, warming and full of flavour.

I grew up on casseroles; they are a great way to feed a family or a large crowd. Casseroles may take time to prepare but that can be done a day or even two before (or longer and freeze it) and since they cook in the oven you don’t need to babysit it, the first one home can just pop it into the oven. I usually try to have my casseroles be the complete meal so that simplifies things, and there are usually leftovers for lunches or another meal. I am using the Puttanesca sauce from the Tomato Sauce blog, some pasta and cheese to make this one, but the choices are endless.