The "John Wayne Casserole" is named after the legendary actor because he contributed the egg and cheese casserole recipe to a 1979 charity cookbook. A 10-year-old girl named Cara Connery created a cookbook called Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She reached out to more than 1,400 celebrities, including John Wayne, and asked for their favorite recipes. Wayne's contribution was a simple, vegetarian egg and cheese casserole with green chiles and tomatoes.
THE ORIGINAL JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE
1 lb. Cheddar cheese, shredded
2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilies
1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
4 egg whites
4 egg yolks
2/3 c.up evaporated milk
1 Tbsp. flour
salt 'n pepper to taste
2 med. tomatoes, sliced
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.. Combine cheeses and chilies in a large bowl, pour mixture into a buttered 9 x 13 inch casserole. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks, add milk, flour, salt and pepper.
Mix well. Fold egg whites into yolk mixture, pour over cheeses. Gently fold the egg mixture through the cheeses with a dinner fork. Bake 30 minutes, remove from oven. Arrange sliced tomatoes around edges. Bake for 30 minutes more.
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