Childhood dishes can take you straight back to your seat at the family dinner table. Comfort meals that were served there are uber nostalgic. And there is one dish represents the epitome of Gen X and baby boomer childhoods: casseroles. These one-dish wonders were loaded with flavor and baked to perfection. Pulled straight from the oven to the dinner table, casseroles filled the house with the smell of unique home-cooked recipes. And while most of us are eating casseroles today at Thanksgiving, Gen Xers and boomers grew up eating casseroles on the reg. Here are 15 old-school casserole recipes that Redditors grew up eating, which are just as yummy today: Chicken casseroles Fancy Fast Chicken casserole “Fancy Fast Chicken is delicious and so simple. Line up chicken breasts in a casserole dish. Dump uncooked stuffing over top the chicken breasts. Pour Cream of Mushroom (Onion or chicken works too) and incorporate it into the stuffing. Top with cheese of your choice, and fried onions if you’re inclined. Bake at 350 for 45min or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.” – Applepoisoneer Chicken Curry Divan casserole “My favorite is Chicken Curry Divan. A friend made it for me in college 40 years ago and it is a favorite to this day. Never disappoints. Many people have asked me for the recipe over the years. My best friends kids now that they are grown have each approached me for it. 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast tenders cooked and cut into bite sized pieces3 cups broccoli in bite sized pieces2 cans Cream of Chicken soup1 cup mayonnaise (must be Mayo)2 tsp curryJuice of 1 lemonShredded sharp cheddar (use the amount you like o like a nice even cover of the top)3/4 cup crushed Ritz crackers3 tbsp melted butterIn 9×13” baking pan layer chicken then broccoli. Mix the soup, Mayo, lemon juice and curry together well, pour over chicken broccoli mixture evenly and smooth out. Sprinkle cheese over top evenly. Crush crackers fine, mix in melted butter well and sprinkle evenly over top. Cook at 375° for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and top brown. Serve with rice.” – karinchup Chicken and Rice casserole “This baked rice & cheese casserole has become a staple in our house! It’s great as a side dish, or I’ll add rotisserie chicken and serve it as a main dish.” – anchovypepperonitoni Chicken & Dumplings casserole “The secret of this is not to stir anything. That’s what makes your dumplings. When you dish it out, you have your dumplings on top.2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded; 2 cups chicken broth; 1/2 stick of butter; 2 cups Bisquick mix; 2 cups whole milk; 1 can cream of chicken soup; 1/2 medium onion, minced; 1 cup frozen peas; 3 tsp chicken Better Than Bouillon; 1/2 tsp dried sage; 1 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp salt. (1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees(2) Layer 1 – In 9×13 casserole dish, melt 1/2 stick of butter. Spread shredded chicken over butter. Sprinkle black pepper and dried sage over this layer. Do not stir.(3) Layer 2 – Sprinkle minced onions and peas over chicken(4) Layer 3 – In small bowl, mix milk and Bisquick. Slowly pour all over chicken. Do not stir.(5) Layer 4 – In medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of chicken broth, chicken bouillon, and soup. Once blended, slowly pour over the Bisquick layer. Do not stir.(6) Bake casserole for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.” – Superb_Yak7074 Chicken broccoli casserole “I made chicken broccoli casserole last week and that’s a favorite here. This is pretty close to how I do it.” – gimmethelulz Potato casseroles Funeral Potatoes “The unfortunately named, funeral potatoes!” – IRLperson Tater Tot casserole “Tater tot casserole. My mom made this at least once a week when I was growing up, but she added a quart of green beans to make it a meal. If you brown your ground beef in a good size cast iron skillet, you only dirty up one pan to make it!” – hcynthia1234, upperwareParTAY Breakfast casserole “I’m making a breakfast casserole this morning for brunch later—a bag of frozen hash brown potatoes thawed, a pound of sausage sauteed with peppers and onions, a brick of cheese grated, eight eggs beaten with a bit of milk and cream and some salt and pepper. Layer in a casserole, ending with cheese. Bake around an hour at 375.” – CWrend Hamburger pie casserole “One of my childhood favorites. Did not add vegetables or cheese though. This was an end of the month struggle meal that everyone loved.” – DarnHeather Shepherd’s pie casserole “Shepherd’s pie : brown 1.5 lbs ground beef with half a chopped onion, salt and pepper, drain it and then spread into a 13×9 and stir a can of cream of mushroom soup into it. Spread a drained family size can of corn on top, use a container of prepared mashed potatoes for the top layer. Bake for a half hour at 350.” – ExplanationLucky1143   Noodle casseroles Tuna casserole “Love my mom’s tuna noodle casserole: 1 bag broad egg noodles, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans tuna, 1 cup frozen corn or 1 can kernel corn, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 1 tbsp celery saltCook noodles per package directions, drain, then place in a 13×9 casserole dish. Mix in cream of mushroom soup, tuna, corn, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, and celery salt. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese and bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until done enough for you.” – Pinkleton Mock Stroganoff casserole “Mock stroganoff – brown 1lb ground chuck. Mix in 8 oz sour cream and 1 can cream of mushroom. Add to 1 lb of cooked egg noodles. Season with black pepper. Extras – fresh mushrooms and/or onion cooked with the beef. Any precooked veggies of your choice, peas or broccoli work well. Splash of Worcestershire, soy sauce, or fish sauce. Garlic or onion powder. Parsley, thyme, or cilantro.” – Nathan_Saul Cabbage noodle casserole “I have a quick cabbage and noodles that uses bagged cole slaw. Cook a bag of noodles. Put aside. Cut up a lb of bacon and a med onion. Cook in pan until bacon is slightly fried and onions are clear. Add cabbage(without carrots) let sit 10 min or so. Add to noodles. It’s so easy.” – conjas11 @allrecipes Thanksgiving prep class is now in session! If there’s one thing you need to nail on the big day (other than the turkey, of course), it’s Green Bean Casserole. This recipe tastes just like the one your grandmother used to make, if not even better! Continue reading or click the link in the @allrecipes bio to get the full recipe. Ingredients: 2 (15-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup ¾ cup milk 1 (2.8-ounce) can French fried onions salt and ground black pepper to taste Directions: Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mix green beans, condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, and 1/2 of the fried onions in a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onions on top and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let rest for a few minutes before serving. : Nicole #thanksgiving #greenbeancasserole #greenbeans #thanksgivingsides ♬ Greens Bean Potatoes – Thanksgiving Music Vegetable casseroles Green bean casserole “This is the best green bean casserole recipe, it does use the canned onions but you make your own cream of mushroom and it’s soooo good. I’ve made it on random weekends, it’s not just a Thanksgiving food. I don’t know much about older foods, I just really wanted to share that recipe.” Corn casserole “Our family Corn custard doesn’t have crackers but we double the recipe and there’s never any left over. 2 eggs, 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 flour, 2 T soft butter, 1 tsp sugar, 1 can of creamed corn, 1 can of whole corn. Mix all together and bake in a 8×8 about 45 min at 350. Gotta have that!” – Psychological_Bat890 What are your easy casserole week night recipes byu/arifirari inOld_Recipes The dish that never really went out of style At the end of the day, casseroles earned their spot at the family table for good reason. They’re forgiving, they stretch a few ingredients into a full meal, and they somehow taste even better as leftovers the next day. Whether it’s Fancy Fast Chicken or a batch of funeral potatoes, these recipes stuck around because they work, not just because they’re nostalgic. So the next time you’re short on time or ideas for dinner, maybe skip the takeout menu and dig up one of these instead. Chances are, it’ll taste like it did the first time someone made it for you. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post 15 old-school casserole recipes that feel like home for boomers and Gen Xers appeared first on Upworthy.

You might be shocked to learn that many people don’t like making small talk. Surprise, right? They either believe it’s beneath them to talk about mundane subjects or don’t see the benefit of discussing the weather, sports, or television with people they hardly know. However, these folks are missing a very valuable form of interaction that can help them with their love lives, friendships, and careers. They also remove themselves from situations where they can elevate small talk to something more valuable and meaningful. Jefferson Fisher, a Texas personal injury attorney and communications expert, has become massively popular on Instagram, with nearly 6 million followers, for sharing tips “to help people argue less and talk more.” While promoting his new book,The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More, Fisher discussed the number one problem people have while making small talk. What’s the biggest mistake people make during small talk? “They unknowingly turn the conversation back to themselves too quickly,” Fisher tells Parade. “It’s a natural impulse. We want to relate, to show we understand. But what often happens is that we hijack the conversation.” “For example, someone says, ‘I just got back from a trip to Italy,’ and instead of asking about their experience, we jump in with, ‘Oh, I’ve been to Italy several times, it’s great.’ It’s well-meaning, but it can come across as dismissive,” Fisher said. “Instead, focus on them. Ask open-ended questions like, ‘That’s wonderful, what was your favorite part?’ Small talk isn’t about impressing people, it’s about making them feel seen and heard.” View this post on Instagram Fisher’s advice echoes that of the great Dale Carnegie, author of the 1936 classic How to Win Friends and Influence People. In the book, Carnegie says, “To be interesting, be interested.” Carnegie’s advice is counterintuitive because we are taught to believe that being likable means dominating conversations and entertaining the other person. However, Carnegie thinks that people who are generous listeners tend to make a better first impression. How to be more likable Researchers at Harvard University found that when you ask someone a question, people will like you more if, after they answer, you ask them two more follow-up questions. So, if you ask, “Where did you go last summer?” And they reply, Italy, you can follow that up with two questions about their favorite city and the restaurant they’ll never forget. Then, you can tell them that you’ve been there, too. “We identify a robust and consistent relationship between question-asking and liking,” the study’s authors write. “People who ask more questions, particularly follow-up questions, are better liked by their conversation partners.” People will take a shine to you after you ask a few questions because it shows that you are listening and interested in what they say. “Follow-up questions are an easy and effective way to keep the conversation going and show that the asker has paid attention to what their partner has said,” the researchers write. How to actually put this into practice While at first, it may take a little practice to ask follow-up questions instead of turning the conversation to your experiences and opinions, it should take some pressure off the need to be interesting. Now, instead of trying to wow people with your stories, all you have to do is listen to theirs, and they’ll like you all the more for it. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post Expert shares the simple small talk mistake almost everyone makes, and how to fix it appeared first on Upworthy.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and in a year when grocery prices feel like a jump-scare every time we glance at a receipt, many are looking for ways to celebrate without blowing the budget. Luckily, this isn’t the first time Americans have had to get creative in the kitchen. During the Great Depression, families all over the country still hosted Thanksgiving dinners, often with barely anything in the pantry. Yet what they managed to whip up wasn’t dreary or depressing. Quite the opposite. These resourceful dishes would be just as flavorful and comforting today as they were decades ago. Here are some Depression-era dishes and tricks that still deserve a spot on a modern Thanksgiving table. Some delicious entrees Swap the turkey for an “old roasted hen” Roasted hen Photo credit: Canva Turkey was wildly expensive in the 1930s, costing more than 10 hours’ worth of wages, per archived reports from The Beaumont Enterprise. Many families simply couldn’t justify buying one, so they reached for one of the cheapest roaster birds available: an old hen. As in, past their laying prime, or even roosters. Cooked low and slow with plenty of moisture, it becomes tender and surprisingly rich. Given today’s smaller gatherings and tighter budgets, downsizing the bird might make sense again. Recipe: The Prairie Homestead Mock duck: the original inflation workaround One of the most legendary Depression dishes was “mock duck.” Instead of an actual duck, spread flank steak with stuffing, roll it tight, sear it, and roast it until it tastes like something far fancier than it actually is. It’s comfort food cosplay, and it absolutely works. Recipe: BC Food History Stretch the meat with porcupine meatballs Despite the prickly name, porcupine meatballs contain no porcupine. Instead, rice is mixed directly into the meat so it sticks out like little quills. The rice also bulks up the dish so a small amount of meat could feed a crowd. It’s frugal genius. Recipe: Food52 Sides and salads Try classic sides like creamed onions and candied sweet potatoes The long-running radio program Aunt Sammy’s Homemaker’s Half Hour taught home cooks how to stretch every penny. Among their most beloved suggestions: creamed pearl onions, candied sweet potatoes, and simple vegetable dishes built from affordable staples. These sides check every Thanksgiving box: warm, creamy, sweet, and budget-friendly. Recipe: Taste of Home Recipe: The Past is a Foreign Pantry Potato pancakes: the ultimate cheap-and-cheerful staple Potato pancakes. Photo credit: Canva Potatoes were one of the most affordable ingredients of the era, and potato pancakes made frequent holiday appearances. They’re crispy, filling, and perfect for scooping up gravy or topping with applesauce. Recipe: Just a Pinch Don’t sleep on vintage stuffings Chestnut stuffing, apple-and-raisin stuffing, and even spiced cranberry stuffing were Depression-era favorites. Sure, some recipes required extra labor, like pressing boiled chestnuts through a sieve, but the flavor payoff was worth it then and now. Recipe: Robin Cutler Recipe: Cardinal Tales Dandelion salad: foraging before it was trendy Many families filled their tables with whatever grew nearby. Dandelion greens, now a fancy “superfood,” were a Depression staple. Paired with citrus, eggs, or leeks, they made a fresh, bright starter salad. Recipe: Taste of Home Everyone loves pie For dessert: pumpkin pie or “Hoosier” sugar cream pie Hoosier pie. Photo credit: Canva Fresh pumpkin pie was the go-to, though cooks often used whole pumpkins to avoid the cost of canned puree. And if pumpkins were scarce, families turned to Indiana’s beloved sugar cream pie, sometimes also called a “Hoosier cream pie,” which dates all the way back to the 1800s. It’s simple, silky, and made from pantry basics. What’s not to like? Recipe: Robin Cutler Recipe: Taste of Home The real lesson behind these recipes One thing worth noting: perhaps the even bigger takeaway here is not the recipes themselves, but the mindset of getting back to basics and making the most out of what’s available. And maybe that’s the real inspiration for today. A Thanksgiving table doesn’t need extravagance to be satisfying…or meaningful. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post 8 Depression-era Thanksgiving meal ideas that still hold up today appeared first on Upworthy.

The holiday bonus is a time honored tradition. Though it’s been beautifully lampooned in films like Christmas Vacation, it’s something a lot of people look forward to every year. It’s a chance for companies that have done well to reward employees for their hard work and motivate them to keep it up in the coming year. Traditionally, though, holiday bonuses are not guaranteed by any stretch, and they’re often modest. Indeed writes that a typical holiday bonus is around 5-10% of your salary. Great to have, but not typically life-changing money. A company called St. John Properties decided to celebrate a big milestone by majorly upping the ante with its holiday bonuses. And they caught the amazing moment on camera. Per a press release, the commercial real estate firm had just completed its goal of developing 20 million square feet of space across eight states, so the boss wanted to express his gratitude to his employees in the most unique and special way. He decided to share an impactful form of gratitude to honor his employees and surprise them with something wonderful. View this post on Instagram What was inside those red envelopes Edward St. John, founder of St. John Properties, decided to pay a $10 million bonus to his 198 employees. Better yet, he decided to announce the bonuses while everyone was gathered together at the annual Christmas party. As employees mingled, sipped drinks, and munched on d’oeuvres, St. John took the stage and spoke into the mic. As he talked, assistants handed out mysterious red envelopes to all the workers in attendance. St. John shared how the performance of his dear employees had been crucial in achieving the company’s goal, as per a video uploaded by the company on YouTube. “Everybody is important in this company,” he said. “And you’re all participating in a bonus.” The crowd knew the evening was going to hold a “surprise,” but only a small handful of them knew about the impromptu bonus. And they certainly didn’t realize how big the amount was going to be. The moment the big reveal happened St. John announced that the employees would all be splitting a $10 million bonus, divided up by number of years with the company, and invited them to open their envelopes. Cameras were on hand to capture the reactions. With jaw-dropping reactions, tears, laughter, gasps and more echoing throughout the room, every employee was overjoyed. The bonuses ranged from generous to lifechaning The company stated that the bonuses ranged from $100 to a staggering $270,000 for the longest tenured employees. The average person received $50,000 that evening. The New York Post reports that the average American considers roughly $20,000 to be “life-changing.” Over half of people surveyed said they would put that kind of money directly into savings to ensure a better retirement. Others would use it for a frivolous vacation or to pay off debts. In any case, that kind of money can improve many areas of a person’s life. “I was blown away when this happened,” one of the employees said. Another added, “What happened tonight was magical. It is life-changing.” One more chimed in, “I’m very excited, I’ve been here a long time, he didn’t have to do what he did.” Addressing his idea behind this prestigious gift, St. John said, “To celebrate the achievement of our goal, we wanted to reward our employees in a big way that would make a significant impact in their lives. I am thankful for every one of our employees, for their hard work and dedication. I couldn’t think of a better way to show it.” While some were left astonished, others were fighting back tears. St. John made the evening extra special by saying, “I steer the boat but they’re the ones that run the boat. They’re the ones that make the boat go. Without the teams we are nothing, we are absolutely nothing.” Why he did it in the first place Speaking about his love and respect for his employees in his company and his life, the founder said, My philosophy has always been to surround myself with the best and the brightest, and that is what we have done. Every professional at St. John Properties is committed to excellence every day.” The bonus was given to employees in addition to their annual year-end bonus and several other benefits so that they could truly have a very merry Christmas. In a time where CEO and executive pay has skyrocketed while worker wages remain relatively stagnant, the gesture was beautiful to behold. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post 198 employees were moved to tears when they opened up their ‘surprise’ Christmas bonus appeared first on Upworthy.

When Autumn de Forest was five years old, she picked up a paintbrush for the first time. It wasn’t long before she was ready to show the world what she could do. After a year of practice, the then-six-year-old asked her father if he could get her a booth at a local art-in-the-park program. “People would come up to the booth, and they would talk to my father, and they’d say, ‘This is great!'” she said. “Apparently they thought it was Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” Almost everyone thought the artwork was her father’s. When they found out that tiny Autumn was the artist, people couldn’t believe their eyes. Autumn created this piece when she was just 5 years old. Photo credit: Autumn de Forest When Autumn was eight, she was featured on the Discovery Health Channel. There was a slew of media attention in the years that followed. There was Disney. There was The Today Show. There was Wendy Williams. She was called a child genius, a prodigy, and an expert painter. Suddenly, Autumn de Forest was everywhere. Not everyone was convinced But not everyone was so accepting of the young artist and her work. Some people in the art world had…questions. Sure, she was good for a kid. But was her art actually good? Others wondered if the whole thing might be an elaborate hoax. Autumn ignored her critics and kept painting. By age 14, she developed a startlingly organized daily routine that went far beyond a 9 to 5. Somehow, as the focus on her age began to wear off, Autumn’s work ethic and art only grow stronger. She said that most days, she’d wake up in her parents’ Las Vegas home at 7:30 a.m. After breakfast, she’d break out her supplies for a one- or two-hour painting session. From there, she dove into her school work. Most brick-and-mortar schools can’t accommodate her travel schedule, so she did the majority of her schooling online. Before dinner, it was back into the studio. “That session can last much longer, that can be three or four hours when I really get into it,” she said. “Then I probably have dinner and go to bed.” Autumn de Forest paints. Photo credit: Autumn de Forest Her work has been displayed in galleries and exhibitions all over the world. An Autumn de Forest painting. Photo credit: Autumn de Forest Autumn held a public demonstration before a showing at The Butler Institute of American Art. A private audience with the Pope In 2015, Autumn received the International Giuseppe Sciacca Award in Painting and Art. The award took her to the Vatican for a private showing of her artwork with Pope Francis. Autumn de Forest stands with the Pope who looks at one of her paintings. Photo credit: Autumn de Forest At 16, she also worked with the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, headed up by former First Lady Michelle Obama. As part of the program, de Forest traveled to underprivileged schools around the country and led painting workshops. Oh, and if you’re looking for some hard numbers to attach to Autumn’s talent, she’s got those, too. Her paintings raked in over $7 million at auctions by the time she was a teenager, fetching as much as $25,000 each, much of which has gone directly to charities and disaster relief funds. Now 24, Autumn continues to be represented by Park West Gallery, the world’s largest art dealer, and is keeping busy with her craft and philanthropy. The transition from child prodigy to respected artist has certainly kept her busy. In 2017, the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee hosted a major solo exhibition for de Forest titled “Her White Room: The Art of Autumn de Forest.” That same year, de Forest was listed as one of Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21.” In her profile she was praised for her talent as well as her commitment to art education. “In dis­advantaged schools, they consider the arts an extracur­ricular activity,” she told Teen Vogue. “It’s devastating, as there could be child prodigies in these schools, but they don’t know that they have this God-­given gift because they’re not given the opportunity because there’s nearly no art programs in schools.” In 2018, de Forest was featured in the music video for the song “Youth” by best-selling recording artists Shawn Mendes and Khalid. The video highlights exceptional young people working to change the world, including de Forest, Emma González, and Elias and Zion Phoenix. The video has over 88 million views on YouTube. And of course, de Forest continues to share her absolutely incredible artwork on Instagram and in shows and exhibitions around the globe. View this post on Instagram Giving back to the next generation The Autumn de Forest Foundation helps her keep track of the kids she’s met throughout the years and to continue to help them with their art careers A portion of the foundation’s money goes to a 529 account set up for the students while 10% goes to them directly. “A lot of these kids that I work with, they’re not very old, they’re in second grade, third grade, fourth grade. Maybe in 10 years, they may only have four or five thousand dollars but that could be the difference between them going to college or not,” Autumn told Teen Vogue. Autumn’s incredible rise in the art world is an astonishing feat for someone so young, but that accomplishment is easily matched by her generosity and commitment to helping develop tomorrow’s prodigies as well. De Forest’s latest solo exhibition debuted in August of last year, and ran through mid-September at the Park West Soho Gallery. She now resides in Los Angeles according to her profile on the networking site, dot.cards. For more information, visit her website. This article originally appeared ten years ago. It has been updated. The post Art prodigy sold $7 million worth of paintings before she was even 14-years-old appeared first on Upworthy.