Tuna Noodle Casserole: Comfort Food or Abomination?

Most of us know about tuna noodle casserole, but does it stand up today? First, Emily Nunn laid out the argument that the dish is a disappointment in her article The Comfort Food Myth. The classic dish began as a desperation meal for those who couldn't afford better, became a convenience recipe using canned soup in the 1950s, and is now only eaten as a nostalgic comfort food. As such, the only recipe many people can enjoy is the exact one from their childhood.

Samantha Irby responded with another article, Tuna Noodle Casserole: It Only *Sounds* Disgusting. Her position is that there is nothing wrong with comfort food, and she even tells us how to make tuna casserole if you don't already know.

First you need to call your mama, ask her to leave the old Corningware baking dish she stole from your grandma on her front steps, then swing by there on your way home from the grocery store and pick it up because tuna casserole just doesn’t taste right unless it’s from a weird, faded glass dish that only old people care about.

Ahem, you can borrow my CorningWare only if you promise to bring it back within a week. Grandma replaced my thievery decades ago. But I'm kidding myself. One kid won't eat tuna and the other won't eat noodles, and neither will touch mushroom soup. Anyway, Nunn's article from July is still getting vehement responses from people on both sides of the tuna casserole debate. -via Metafilter

What's your opinion?






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I love tuna casserole. With tuna. And baked in a 1970s blue and white Corningware dish. And not only does it include a can of Cream of Mushroom soup, but also a can of Cream of Celery. And carrots. And Peas. And Cheese. And enough milk or light cream to ensure the whole thing comes out nice and creamy.
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Tuna casserole can be sooooo delicious--if you use good ingredients. If you combine a bunch of over-salty canned stuff and blop it in a dish and bake it until it vulcanizes, it will be disgusting. And of course my mom's recipe (that I now make) was the best! :)
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