Emory Casserole (Kristen Conwell)

​Dear Britt,
As you are starting a lovely new phase of your life and geographicly leaving your home and family, I wanted to share with you a recipe from a similar time in my life. I moved to Emory University in Atlanta, GA from Washington State, to get my Nursing degree. I had never done much cooking at home; Mom would mostly have me make the salad and set the table. She sent me off to Nursing school and my first apartment with the More with Less Cookbook mas nada! I met Bill, in the apartment next to mine, the day I moved in…eventually he and I were part of a small food co-op group so each person only had to cook dinner once a week. This recipe, a favorite submission of mine, came to be known in our family as Emory casserole and is a truly a family favorite now. I altered it almost immediately so it bears only a passing resemblance to the entry labeled Broccoli Rice in More with Less.
When I cook this I am reminded of learning new skills, meeting wonderful new people in a really different culture😆, and the still fresh joy of falling in Love and getting to know my life mate. I wish for you all these joyful adventures and that you know how much we have appreciated having you as our pastor here at PMC. Sending you off with love,
Kristen Conwell

Recipe
4 c. cooked brown rice (I used long grain)
1/4 c. Butter or light olive oil
2 regular yellow onions or one very large one, chopped
1/2 c. slivered toasted almonds
1/2 can water chestnuts, cut into slivers (optional)
3 mounded teaspoons of hot or regular curry powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2, 7oz cans of chicken or equivalent from roasted chicken
1 1/2 c. mayonnaise (yup, not lo-cal😆)
4 c. Fresh chopped broccoli
1c. milk
1 1/2 c. Grated sharp cheddar cheese

Toast the almonds in the oven @ 350 degrees until light brown.
Steam broccoli until barely tender, drain.
Sauté onions in butter until almost done then add curry powder, salt, and the almonds , until the onions are done and the mix is fragrant.
Mix everything in a large bowl, put in a greased casserole and bake @ 350 for 45-60 minutes, or until slightly browned and a bit crunchy on the edges.
Enjoy!