Traditions to Remember

Andy Williams Christmas tunes from the speakers. A holiday candle flickering nearby. Twice-baked potatoes and au gratin broccoli in the oven. These are a few of our favorite (Christmas) things. Our Grandma Beans—our mom, Bonnie’s, mom—used to bake the au gratin broccoli, and we still love the warm comfort of it drifting from our own ovens.

Here’s the recipe, in case you want to add it to your holiday lineup (we think Grandma Beans would approve). It’s definitely not landing in any healthy eating blogs, but maybe it will find its way into your own traditions. And a little holiday indulgence is definitely Dudley-approved.

Grandma Beans’ Au Gratin Broccoli

1 tbsp butter or margarine

1 tbsp flour

1 tsp dry mustard

¼ tsp salt

⅛ tsp pepper

1 c milk

2 c cooked broccoli

1 c shredded American cheese

-Heat oven to 325 degrees

-Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat, and blend in flour and seasonings

-Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly

-Remove from heat and stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly

-Boil and stir 1 minute, then stir in cheese and cook, stirring until cheese is melted

-Add broccoli and heat through, then transfer vegetable mixture into an ungreased 1 qt casserole

-Separately, saute day-old, broken-up bread in garlic and butter until soaked and crunchy and add to top of mixture

-Baked uncovered for 15 minutes or until heated through