Chicken-Cheese Ravioli Casserole

There are so many things just plain wrong about this recipe I hardly know where to start. 1. Any casserole that starts with canned ravioli is suspect. I will admit eating it occasionally when I need a very quick meal at work, but it doesn't belong in a casserole. 2. Chicken- how in the world does that go with cheese ravioli? 3. Chinese pea pods, this is where the recipe truly goes astray. How they decided to add these is beyond me. 4. Pimientos, cream and slivered almonds, enough said!

Chicken-Cheese Ravioli Casserole

3 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 broiler-fryer chicken, cut into serving pieces
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 can (6 0z) sliced mushrooms, drained
2 cans (15 oz. each) Chef Boy-Ar-Dee Cheese Ravioli in Beef and Tomato Sauce
1/4 cup chopped pimiento
1 cup light cream
Hot pepper sauce
1 package (10 oz.) Chinese pea pods
3 tablespoon toasted slivered almonds
Combine cooking oil and butter. Heat in medium sized skillet. Fry chicken parts until lightly browned. Remove browned parts to warm platter. Saute onion and pepper in remaining butter. Add drained sliced mushrooms and ravioli. Cover; simmer for 5 minutes. Add pimiento, light cream and pepper sauce. Stir gently. Cook pea pods according to package direction. Add to ravioli mixture. Arrange chicken on top; cover. Bake for 45 minutes in 350 degree oven. Garnish with toasted almonds. Serves 4 generously.

From: Favorite Casseroles & Other Exciting Recipes, 1986. All the recipes feature name brand ingredients.

Roast Chicken with Smoked Oysters- No Thanks

This recipe is from New Casserole Cookery the 1968 edition. I like casseroles, they are the frugal cooks friend and I make them frequently. But this recipe is just wrong for many reasons. 1. I like smoked oysters and have them occasionally as a snack with crackers, but they do not belong in a casserole. 2. If I have a nice succulent roast chicken why oh why would I cut it up in a cream soup casserole?3. Why the Italian green beans? I like them also but they are much chewier than a regular green bean and I think the texture would be wrong for this casserole. This casserole is just a disaster!
Chicken Baked With Smoked Oysters And Italian Green Beans
1 9 0z. package frozen Italian green beans
1 roast or barbecued chicken
1 3 2/3-oz. can smoked oysters
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
For a quick assembly job, the barbecued or roast chicken warm from the supermarket is best for last-minute cooking, juicier and more flavorful than that in cans. Cook the green beans according to direction until barely tender. Drain and arrange in casserole, Cut the warm chicken from the bone in bite-sized pieces. Arrange on green beans. Drain and sprinkle smoked oysters on top. Pour in undiluted cream of celery soup. Sprinkle crumbled bacon on top. Bake in 350 degree oven until brown and bubbly, about 35 to 45 minutes.