A perennial favorite as a hot dish to keep warm on cold winter days is the casserole. A casserole is usually defined as a meal oven cooked in a long high sided pan. It must contain protein, carbs, and veggies all in one. I again polled my friends as to there favorites and added wine pairings. Enjoy.
Cabbage Roll Casserole

Image by: Jeff Coulson
Cabbage rolls casserole seem to be a Canadian favorite. This is a good, easy variation on the more time-gobbling traditional cabbage-roll recipe, but with all that great mixture of flavours! You can play with the proportions and amounts quite a bit and still have a good recipe. Do the prep the night before, and leave in your oven with the self-timer set, come home to a great-smelling house!
Favorite pairings would be a Malbec or Zinfandel. Zinfandel is extremely food friendly and play well with the different components of the Cabbage Rolls, such as meat (whether it be beef or pork), the Cabbage, or any sort of tomato sauce on the Cabbage roll.
Malbec work in a similar fashion. They are a little spicier on the tongue, which is perfect for the meat component. They are also bright and mid-bodied wines, so they don’t overshadow the cabbage.
lasagna

Image by: Jeff Coulson
Layer after scrumptious layer of rich meat sauce, tender pasta and creamy cheese make this lasagna the best you’ll ever have. The family-friendly classic is just as good when you make it ahead, so it’s a Monday night lifesaver
Tart and savory Sangiovese (like one made into a Chianti Classico style) drinks well with the intensity of lasagna. This is because the high acid and rustic flavor profile cuts through creamy fat and with tomato at the same time. Sangiovese is delicious, ubiquitous (it’s Italy’s top grape), and drinks well with every style of lasagna.
Shepherd’s Pie

Image by: Shepherd’s Pie Author: Canadian Living
Shepherd’s pie is economical and tasty, this quintessential British mix of meat and potatoes proves that some meals are just as good the second time round. There are many variations that exist. Our family likes it with lentils instead of meat. I never understood why in French it is called Pate Chinois – there is nothing Chinese about it. Nonetheless, have fun with it.
A southern French red like the ever-versatile Côtes-du-Rhône Villages or a named village wine like Vacqueyras is always a good match.
Baked Ziti

Image by: Jodi Pudge
A favorite for many. This ziti recipe is a faster weeknight-friendly version of this classic Sunday casserole by keeping the ingredients simple and baking the pasta at a high temperature for less time. Again many people have variations on this dish.
Oven-roasting boosts the sweetness in this dish, and endears it to a ripe red wine. An elegant, dark-fruited red Valpolicella can boost the sweetness of the onion and tomato in this dish.
Macaroni and Cheese

All dishes look tempting and nicely done. In my country Iran, cabbage rolls or stuffed cabbage leaves are popular.
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