Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole, 6 servings

This is great when having company over for brunch. 

1 lb.        Yellow potatoes - Cubed

16           Eggs

1 14 oz   Shredded cheese

1 lb.        Ground sausage

1/2 each Red and green Bell Pepper                       - chopped.

1             Jalapeno pepper - chopped                         (optional)

1/2          Onion - chopped.

1 tbsp.    Garlic olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste, I also used a sprinkle of basil. 

Bake at 425

You can cook the potatoes and brown the sausage the evening before if you'd like. You can make this as mild or spicy as you'd like by using mild, medium of hot sausage. Also, you can use Jalapeno pepper jack cheese. And add Jalapeno's along with the bell peppers. 

Spray or coat the 9x13 or 9x9 pan with oil. Cube the potatoes and thoroughly coat them with oil. Line the bottom of the pan with them. Bake at 475 for 20 minutes. Until they're tender. 

While the potatoes bake, brown the sausage. 

When the potatoes are done spread the sausage over them evenly. Add a layer of shredded cheese. If you've done this night before, cover with foil and put in the fridge. 

In the morning, heat the oven to 425. Whip the eggs, add a little milk (optional). Salt and pepper and pour evenly over the cheese. Bake for 45 minutes and then add another layer of cheese and cook another 15 minutes or until eggs are firm.

Pairs well with mimosas and friends. 

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

 I think this is going to be our new holiday favorite:

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes for TWO

1 1/2        Peeled apples cut into cubes. 

2 tsp.       Cinnamon

1 tsp        Raw sugar

1 tbsp      Pure Vanilla extract

1 cup Bisquick

1 Egg 

1/2 + Milk

1 tbsp Butter

Heat the griddle to 350 degrees. 

Peel apples and put in small saucepan. Add butter add half the cinnamon and the raw sugar. Heat until it's bubbling then turn down to simmer for about 45 minutes. Mash with masher and set aside. 

Add Bisquick, egg, the rest of the cinnamon, vanilla, and part of the milk. Stir together until thick and smooth. Keep adding milk until it's as thick or thin as you'd like it. Add the apple mixture and mix thoroughly. 

Pour onto the griddle, makes about 5 pancakes. Let cook until bubbles in the batter show, then turn.  Put butter on each. When the bottom is golden brown turn again and add butter to that side. Serve with warmed maple syrup. It pairs well with mimosas. 

Pappardelle with shrimp - Simply elegant

Pappardelle with shrimp - Simply elegant

1 - 8 oz, pkg.     Pappardelle pasta

4 oz                   Raw Argentinian red shrimp

4-5                     Campari tomatoes quartered.

1                         Lemon, squeezed.

1/8 cp                Onion finely chopped.

2 tbsp                Garlic olive oil

2 large               Garlic cloves finely chopped.

Salt and pepper to taste. 

Follow the directions on for the pasta package. 

In a large saucepan cook the shrimp on medium. Poor off any excess. Add the lemon juice, garlic, and onions and let simmer until tender. When there is about 5 minutes left for the pasta, add the tomatoes to the shrimp mixture.

Drain pasta and add to the saucepan with the shrimp mixture. Mix well and serve. Add bread sticks or salad. 

Southwestern baked potato

 Southwestern baked potato - Serves two

2 large    Russet or golden potato

1/2 can    Black beans

1/2 cup    Frozen corn

1/8 cup    Onions chopped.

2 small     Tomatoes sliced into 8th's.

1               Thin cut breast into cubs

1/2 cup     Shredded cheddar cheese

Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.

Brown chicken and onions. then at the rest of ingredients and stir until bubbling. Turn down and simmer while potatoes bake. 

Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and turn over. Back another 15 minutes then slice in half cook another 5 minutes. Oven temps vary. When done spoon mixture over the top and cook for another 10 minutes. Then sprinkle with cheese and cook until melted.

Side:

Baked Cauliflower. 

1 tbsp.       Olive Oil

1 tbsp.       Balsamic vinegar

Salt and Pepper to taste. Bake on 400 for 30 minutes and then continue on top rack while the potatoes bake. 

    

Turkey and vegetable soup

 Turkey and vegetable soup - 8 -1 cup servings

1/2 cup          Celery chopped

2/3 cup          Onion chopped

1/4 cup          Green onion chopped

2                    Carrot's peeled and sliced

1/2 cup          Potatoes cubed

1 can             Great northern beans 

1 can             Fire roasted                                                    tomatoes chopped

1 lb. 4 oz.      Ground turkey 

1/2 cup          White Wine

3 cups            Chicken broth (low sodium)

1 Tbsp.          Basil

1 Tbsp.          Oregano

1 Tbsp.          Chili flakes - Optional

1/4 tsp.          Cayenne pepper- Optional

1 tsp.             Turmeric 

1 tsp.             Black pepper

1 tsp.             Garlic salt

Brown turkey in a large sauce pan, break apart. Add all the vegetables. Cook until tender and starting to stick. Then add wine and broth. Add tomatoes and beans last. Bring to a roiling boil. Turn it down just enough so it's not bubbling over and cook 10 minutes. Then turn to medium heat for 15 minutes and then simmer until vegetable are tender. 

Serve with a roll or salad, or both! 

Mary's Meatloaf

Are you tired of dry meatloaf? I know I was, so I thought how could I take the dry out of meatloaf? Here is how I did it. 

Mary's Meatloaf - 4 to 6 servings.

1 lb.        Ground beef. 

1 lb.        Ground sausage, hot or mild                      your preference. 

1/2 cp.    Onion chopped.

2             Eggs

1             Jalapeno chopped.

2 lg.        Tomatoes chopped.

1/2 cp.    Butter, unsalted.

1 tbsp.    Italian seasoning. 

Heat oven to 400 degrees. 

In a small sauce pan put half the butter in a sauce pan on medium heat. Add half the onions. Cook until onion is translucent. Turn heat off. 

In a medium to large glass bowl add the ground meat, add egg and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and knead with your hands. Add the butter and onions and continue to mix. Chop up the rest of the butter into small cubes and add to the mixture. Mix again until thoroughly mixed. Form into an oblong mound and place on cookie sheet that has been sprayed with oil. Set aside.

I'm not a fan of the traditional catsupy topping, so here is what I use. 

In the same sauce pan, add the tomatoes, jalapenos, and the rest of the onions. Bring to a bowl stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste and the Italian seasoning. Cover. Mash to a paste like consistency. Drain all the liquid out of the paste. Spread half over the top of the meatloaf. Set the rest aside. 

Tent some aluminum foil over the loaf and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil.

Add the rest of the paste over the top. Place back in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 more minutes. Check occasionally. After 20 minutes cut and check to see if it's still pink inside. Cook until it's done to your liking. 

Just an FYI the butter that sizzles out during baking will make the bottom of the loaf crusty, it's good. 

Serve with mashed potatoes, salad, rolls. Enjoy

Chicken breast and Tomatillos - Easy

 Chicken breast and tomatillos - 2 people

2                Boneless chicken breasts.

10-12        Tomatillos either halved or quartered.

1/4             Onion chopped

1                Jalapeno chopped

1 tsp          Oil

3/4 cup      Jasmine rice

Seasoning; see below.

Add the oil to a frying pan to medium high. Salt and pepper the chicken. While the chicken is cooking add the veggies to a sauce pan on medium high. Add Salt, pepper, chili flakes, cayenne, and cumin. One or two shakes, depending on your taste and flavor. When the onion is translucent use a masher to mash the ingredients in the pan, turn down to not quite simmer. 

Follow the directions on the package for the rice. Get it started while the tomatillo mixture is simmering.

Once the water is boiling and you add the rice cover it to cook. 

Mash tomatillo ingredients again. Drain excess liquid. Once you have all the liquid you can get out of the mixture, pour the tomatillo sauce over Chicken. Turn to low and let cook until rice is done.

Serve over the rice. Side salad or tortilla's are good sides. Enjoy