Cheesy Potatoes

Ingredients

2 lbs frozen hash browns
1/2 cup butter
1 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup diced onion
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Defrost potatoes, melt butter, and mix together all ingredients.
2.  Bake at 350 Degrees for 1 hour in a 9 x 13 baking dish.

Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

3 cups water
1 cup dried red kidney beans
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
3/4 cup celery
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 oz package of Andouille Sausage
1 bay leaf
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups hot cooked rice

Combine first 12 ingredients in a slow cooker.  Cover with lid; cook on high heat for 5 hours, or on low for 8 to 9 hours.  Discard bay leaf; Serve over rice.

Sausage & Cheese Grits Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

2 lbs.  Breakfast sausage
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking grits
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
6 eggs beaten

Brown sausage in a large skillet, stirring until it crumbles and cooks through.  Drain well, and set aside.

Bring water and chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan; stir in salt and grits then return to a boil.  Cover pan, reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat; add cheese, milk, butter, garlic, paprika, and cayenne pepper; stirring until cheese melts.  Stir in sausage and eggs.  Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, at 352 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until golden and bubbly and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Make-Ahead directions: Prepare casserole mixture as directed but do not bake.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Remove from refrigerator; let stand, covered 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake as directed.

Baked French Toast Casserole with Maple Syrup

Ingredients

1 loaf of French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups of half and half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple Syrup

Directions
Slice French bread into 20 slices, i-inch each.  (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs).  Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping in slices.  In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly.  Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk/egg mixture.  Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices.  Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.  Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well.  Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Blueberry Oatmeal Pecan Cookies

1/2 Cup(s) (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 Cup(s) firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 Cup(s) granulated sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon(s) vanilla
1-1/2 Cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon(s) salt (optional)
3 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 pkg of Ocean Spray Blueberry Craisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans

PREPARATION:

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats, blueberry craisins and pecans; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Easy Peasy Beef Tips and Gravy

1 - 1.5lb pkg of stew meat
1 - family size can of cream of mushroom soup
1 - 1pkg of lipton onion soup mix

Mix all together, put in your crock pot and turn on low and cook for 6-8 hours.

Serve over rice or with noodles.

This is the best beef tips and gravy I have had in a long time.  My only issue with this recipe is that it made so little.  It was barely enough to feed my family of four.  The next time I will double the recipe.

Creamy Italian Chicken

1 Package of Dry Italian Dressing Mix                       
1.5 Pounds of Chicken Breasts, boneless, skinless

1 Package of Cream Cheese

1 Can of Small Can of Cream of Chicken Soup

1/4 Cup of Water

 

Step One

Place chicken in slow cooker.

Step Two

Mix Italian dressing mix w/ water in a bowl. Pour over chicken.

Step Three
Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8 hours.
Step Four
Before serving remove chicken carefully.
Step Five
Mix cream cheese and soup and pour into slow cooker mixing with the dressing mix.
Step Six
Add chicken and shred. Cook on low until heated through.
Step Seven
Serve over brown/white rice or noodles.