Chicken, Mushroom, and Squash Casserole

Simple recipe for when it's hard to chew.  For Jen.

Jen has a dental appliance installed that makes it hard to chew, so I needed to find something to make that didn't take much in the way of masticating.  This recipe is based on this one for people who've undergone weight loss surgery, but it still tastes good.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (mushroom can work too)
• 1/2 cup of milk (preferably whole milk)
  
• 8 oz mushrooms, diced smallish (will cook down)
• 1 cup frozen butternut squash, diced very small (can use fresh squash, but you have to pre-cook it)
• 1 apple, peeled and diced very small.
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (preferably cheddar, but cheddar + mozzarella is good)
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• Some butter or olive oil or bacon fat for sauteing
• Decision: a seasoning, preferably without salt already added.  I used shawarma seasoning.
• Salt and pepper

How to Turn it Into Food

1. Saute the diced mushrooms, they take longer than the chicken; optional: add some salt and pepper to them.
2. Preheat oven to 350F.
3. In a saucepan, cook up the chicken.  Ground chicken can dry out, you can add an oil/butter/grease.
4. Add seasoning to the chicken.
5. After chicken is cooked, add soup and milk, stir occasionally.
6. When liquid starts to bubble, add in mushrooms, squash, apple.
7. Continue to cook until apples soften
8. Taste and add more seasoning, salt, or pepper as you like.
9. Pour mixture into small glass baking dish.
10. Cover with cheese and breadcrumbs
11. Bake until cheese is melted

It's easy to swallow, and even the kids liked the flavor and texture.