Quick spaetzle casserole

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 500 g spaetzle
• 200 g cooked ham
• 1 can/n tomatoes
• 1 cup of cream
• 1 cup sour cream
• 500 g cheese (Gouda)
• salt and pepper
• 2 cloves garlic (or garlic powder)
• Fondor
• Paprika powder

Instructions

Working time approx. 15 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 50 minutes; Total time approx. 1 hour 5 minutes

Cook spaetzle (al dente, i.e., slightly less than the package instructions), dice the ham. Combine the tomatoes, ham, cream, and sour cream, and season with the spices (crush the garlic if it’s not powdered). Transfer everything to a casserole dish, sprinkle with grated cheese, and bake at 200°C (400°F) for about 30-40 minutes, until the cheese has melted. If the casserole gets too brown, cover with aluminum foil! For vegetarians: Add corn and broccoli or bell peppers instead of ham. Even if the sauce seems like a lot, the casserole must be “swimming” in sauce, meaning the spaetzle must be covered in sauce, otherwise it won’t taste good! This recipe used to be a birthday hit—a real quick “secret recipe” that my friend Ariane always had to bring to children’s birthday parties instead of a present!