Feel Good Food: Comforting Casserole Recipes

January 3, 2025
FRENCH ONION SOUP CASSEROLE

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 5 medium Vidalia onions, thinly sliced (3 pounds)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 thyme sprigs
  • 2 flat-leaf parsley sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 16-ounce baguette, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup sherry
  • 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Directions
Cook onions
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat; add onions, salt, pepper, thyme and parsley sprigs and bay leaves. Cook onions, stirring often, until golden brown, about 1 hour.

Toast baguette slices
Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake slices for 12 minutes. Set aside.

Bake casserole
Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Increase heat to broil and remove foil. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with thyme sprigs.

Make sauce
Remove and discard thyme and parsley sprigs and bay leaves from onion mixture. Add flour to mixture, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add broth and sherry; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir constantly until slightly thickened, around 2 to 3 minutes.

Assemble casserole
Layer half of the toasted baguette slices in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spoon onion mixture evenly over bread. Top evenly with remaining baguette slices. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with aluminum foil.

Time & Yield
Active time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 6
__________________________________________
SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE PIE CASSEROLE
Ingredients
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups white sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla extract
  • 2 8-ounce cans refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup honey
Directions
Make mixture
Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.

Prepare dough
Unroll crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each sheet into a 9x13 inch rectangle. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Then, press one piece of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Assemble casserole
Evenly spread cream cheese mixture on top. Cover with remaining piece of crescent dough. Mash remaining 3/4 cup sugar, butter and cinnamon with a fork. Dot mixture on top of dough.

Bake casserole
Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake until crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Cool completely in the pan for about 2 hours before cutting into 12 squares.

Time & Yield
Active time: 50 minutes
Total time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 12
By Lesley Mann May 29, 2025
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
May 15, 2025
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
April 22, 2025
GBU has designated four Community Pillars - Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support - which are a concentrated list of causes that resonate with our values.
February 5, 2025
Looking for new spots to explore this winter? Check out these three must-visit places for your next adventure.
January 21, 2025
Details and deadlines surrounding the GBU Foundation scholarship and grants for 2025.
January 3, 2025
We've found some tips to keep up your sleeve this winter.
January 3, 2025
The Defined Benefit Annuity from GBU Life can help you to create a plan for a guaranteed income in retirement by making regular contributions based on your retirement income targets.
January 3, 2025
Graduating from college is an exciting milestone, but it’s also the perfect time to focus on your financial future. Building on the foundation you’ve already laid the groundwork for with smart money choices will set you up for long-term success. Here are a few key financial products to consider as you take the next step.
January 3, 2025
Kick-start your child’s journey to financial success with a whole life policy from GBU Life.
January 3, 2025
How well do you know the characters from the hit TV series The Office? Watch your reruns and get ready to test your skills in our winter trivia contest!
More Posts