Thelma Elledge’s Famous Christmas Casserole
A member of the Friendly Neighbors' Club in Nampa (one of the oldest women's clubs around), Thelma Elledge was such a sweet lady. She used to wave to me every morning as I rode past her house on Lakeshore Drive on my bike, training for the MS 150. At one of the Club meetings, she randomly handed me a casserole she thought our family would enjoy. Little did I know, this recipe would become a part of our lives for years to come.
I made it the first time for a Christmas Day brunch with neighbors and some relatives.
Culinary disaster struck when I misplaced the recipe. We were in mourning for a few weeks until I swallowed my pride and called Thelma in the hopes that she'd still have the recipe. Thelma told me she'd try to find it in the magazine she'd gotten it from. I did not know this entailed digging through the literal stacks of cooking magazines she had at her place. It took her days, but she called me and triumphantly announced that she'd once again located the recipe! Our family rejoiced.
Everyone who's ever had this has loved the casserole, and declared two things. First, that it was delicious. True. Second, that it was a 'heart attack in a casserole dish'. Also probably true. Nevertheless, we make it now on Christmas morning almost every year. The aroma will fill your home, make you feel nurtured and put joy (and a little fat) in your heart. Once a year is about all we can take of this stuff; it’s delicious, but it’s loaded.
Thelma passed away several years ago, but I always think of her whenever I make this casserole and how she used to wave to me out the picture window of her little green and white house on Lakeshore Drive. She was a true Friendly Neighbor.
2 lbs. pork sausage (I use turkey)
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 c. sour cream (8 oz)
1 carton French onion dip (8 oz.)
1 c. chopped onions
¼ c. green peppers (or red, and we use more than that)
1/8 t. pepper (I use waaay more than that)
1 large pkg. frozen hashbrowns, thawed
In large skillet, cook sausage over med. Heat---drain.
In large bowl, combine 1 ¾ c. cheese and next 7 ingredients.
Fold in potatoes.
Put ½ into 3 qt. pan
Top with sausage, rest of mixture
Sprinkle rest of cheese on top.
Cover with foil, bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Uncover, cook for 10 min.
