I appreciated your post, Katie. Fun to look back at the history of this thread. Happy Fat Tuesday! I am definitely feeling inspired to make a Tuna Casserole soon.

Wow. I must have been completely traumatized by my experience, as I have pretty much no recollection of making that dish. But, yep, that's my old kitchen and that's my old dirty stovetop. I mean, as I was re-reading the thread, I was thinking after ReneG's post and encouragement, surely Binko, you weren't crazy enough to actually make this were you? A few posts later, sure enough. I mean, now, going over the the pictures and descriptions, there is a very vague recollection there, but it's one of those memories where you can't quite remember whether it really happened or it was something you saw in a dream. Guess my brain decided, nope, no reason to waste brain cells by storing this particular food memory, let's just move it into short term storage and out it goes with the trash next week.

Binko wrote:Guess my brain decided, nope, no reason to waste brain cells by storing this particular food memory, let's just move it into short term storage and out it goes with the trash next week.

Love this sentence Binko.
My brain works the same way. I've just never seen the process as to whether or not to retain information described so perfectly!

My mother also did a version with the Buddig chipped beef and noodles in a casserole. Pretty muchlike TNC, although I remember cheese being in it as well.

Also in the same family was something called "perky pork" which featured cubed left over pork roast, onion and a can each of Mushroom and Cream of Celery soup (daring, I know). The "perky" part seems to have come from the inclusion of a little jar of pimientos. IIRC the noodles went in uncooked as there was plenty of liquid from the two soups and milk.

BTW, I guess I'm a purist but anyone who puts Elbow Macaroni in their version isn't being authentic in any way, since that would then be "Baked Macaroni." Baked macaroni can be delicious, but TNC, by definition uses egg noodles.