Comfort food at its best: Potato-crusted chicken casserole

We all have our favorite comfort foods--chicken noodle soup, mac n' cheese, crock pot delicacies, among others. I think this is a new one on that list! It's another recipe from Taste of Home, and I know you'll love it, too. As our first snow came down this past weekend, I put this meal together for us to enjoy on a chilly night. Enjoy!

Potato-crusted chicken casserole

1 large potato, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

FILLING:

1-1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups fat-free milk

1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

2 cups frozen peas and carrots

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

dash rubbed sage

CRUMB  TOPPING

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1. In a large bowl, toss potato slices with oil, salt and pepper. Arrange slices onto the bottom and sides of an 11-inch by 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until potato is tender. Reduce heat to 350 degrees.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook chicken in oil until no longer pink. Remove from skillet. In the same skillet, saute onion in butter. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in chicken, vegetables and seasonings. Spoon into potato crust.

3. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly and topping is golden brown. Yield: 6 servings

By the way, here's a picture I took on Saturday morning as the snow was coming down! There were only a couple inches, but it did stay around for a while. Today is like any normal fall day--a bit chilly, the sun is shining, and all the snow is gone!

I hope it doesn't snow again for a while. It seems like it's too early, but yet again, we know that God is in control of the weather, right?

Hope you're enjoying the new season. What is your favorite comfort food?