Pineapple Casserole

Yeah.... you read that right! PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE! My first thought was "ew" followed by, "Well, the reviews are good- maybe I should try it?"

So I did. I took the plunge and made something out of my norm. I dig warm fruit. And I like fruit with meats. But fruit and cheese? That's a little more than I am comfortable with. But I LOVED it. And so did Mike and 2 out of 5 kids!

This Recipe was delivered straight to my inbox and at the 11th hour (well, 4:00 to be exact) our dinner plans were completely altered. This one hails from Paula Dean- her stuff is usually very good but dangerous nutritionally- so I try to stay away from her recipes for the sake of my girlish figure. But I had to try this one!

   

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sugar*
• 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar (I used a white cheddar)*
• 2 (20-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained, and 6 tablespoons pineapple juice reserved
• 1 & 1/2 cup cracker crumbs (recommended: Ritz)
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted, plus extra for greasing pan*

* denotes changes I made based on personal taste- the original amounts were too high in my opinion and when I make this again I will lower the sugar a little more.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a medium-size casserole dish with butter. (I brushed on some of the melted butter from the recipe- no additional is necessary)

 In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. 

 Gradually stir in the cheese.

  

 Add the drained pineapple chunks, and stir until ingredients are well combined

 

Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

In another medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and reserved pineapple juice, stirring with a rubber spatula until evenly blended.

 

 

Spread crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture.

 Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. (mine needed about 40 minutes but I think the topping was too wet to begin with)

TA-DA!!

 

Pineapple and ham are as natural together as peanut butter and jelly, caramel and chocolate.... me and The Hubster (ha-ha! You liked that one, didn't you!?) so I thought the casserole would work. And boy did it!! I can't wait to have leftovers!!

 

So please, I beg you, give this one a try!

Update on Thursday, February 21, 2013 by Jessica

When eating the leftovers, I mixed cut up ham in with the pineapple casserole before heating.

What an idea!! If you do that prior to putting this dish into the oven to begin with, it's TRULY a casserole!!