Mushroom & Wild Rice Hotdish

1/2 cup uncooked wild rice and brown rice blend
1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped 
1 large stalk celery, diced 
3 cloves garlic, minced 
1 lb button mushrooms, sliced
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup creamy portobello mushroom soup
2 Tbs lemon juice
6oz Quorn Chik’n Tenders 
1/3 cup sour cream
2 Tbs panko breadcrumbs

1) Bring 1 cup water to a boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until rice is tender.
2) Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until onion is soft. Add mushrooms and lemon zest. Cook 4 to 6 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft and beginning to brown. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
3) Stir in mushroom soup and lemon juice. Remove from heat, and stir in Chik’n Tenders, rice, and sour cream. Spoon into 8-inch-square baking dish, and top with breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place casserole on baking sheet. Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown on top and bubbly in center.
4) Frozen cooking instructions: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover casserole with foil, and place on baking sheet. Bake 1 hour, or until filling bubbles and top is golden. Remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Review:  Vegetarian Times tells me that "hotdish" is what Minnesotans call casseroles.  Who knew?

This was a labor of love, for sure.  I used a fancy rice mix that had to cook for 50 minutes.  Then, I had to cut up frozen chik'n patties!  I don't like Quorn and we didn't want to go to Wal-Mart today (the only store in town that sells the MorningStar Farms Chik'n Strips).  So, we made due with patties that were in the freezer.  However, they have a grilled taste that altered my casserole.  And, I was able to use leftover (from a recipe a few days ago) creamy portobello mushroom soup.  But, because I had so much leftover, I doubled the soup, rice and sour cream.  It was a bit soupy, so my hotdish wasn't very casserole like.  It was still edible, but I wasn't a huge fan due to the grilled flavor added by the patties.  Oh, well.  It didn't suck and it fed us.  Mike liked it more than I did, but I doubt I'll make it again.