Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole

CHEESE POTATO AND SMOKED SAUSAGE CASSEROLE
From: http://www.food.com/recipe/joleans-cheese-potato-smoked-sausage-casserole-126623

3 cups idaho potatoes, peeled, boiled and cut into cubes when cool, approx. 1 lb
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese, diced
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb skinless smoked sausage ( Eckrich is my favorite brand)
1/8 teaspoon paprika

Directions

Cut skinless smoked sausage in half, lengthwise, and then chop into 1/2 inch "half moon" cuts. Cook in a frying pan for about 15 minutes, turning frequently to SLIGHTLY brown.

Meanwhile, put cooked & diced potatoes in 2 quart casserole. Add cooked meat and give it a gentle toss.

Mix all remaining ingredients (except for shredded cheddar cheese & the paprika) in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, melted and smooth. (Use a whisk and stir constantly.).

Pour white/cheese sauce over potatoes and meat. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top, and then sprinkle paprika evenly over the top.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 35-45 minutes (watch, until golden brown on top).

NOTE: You can substitute: 1/2 lb. hot dogs, sliced into 1/2-inch slices OR 1/2 lb. ham diced into 1/2-inch dices OR 12 oz. can of Spam diced into 1/2-inch dices, instead of the smoked sausage

Bacon, Caesar, and Mozarella Panini's

I have been wanting to try paninis for a very long time... if you know me at all, you will know that this is because I like the sound of the word "Panini".  I saw this fun and easy recipe on Pillsbury and they were so fun ot make and delicious to eat, that I fell in love.  Have to admit though, the kids weren't such big fans... maybe if I threw out the tomatoes?  But it doesn't matter, every now and then moms should get to make something for dinner that they know they will enjoy and not worry about the picky kiddos!

BACON, CEASAR, & MOZZARELLA PANINI

From Pillsbury

INGREDIENTS

1can refrigerated classic pizza crust

4 teaspoons basil pesto (I don't even know what this is?  Needless to say, I sprinkled the sandwhiches with a little basil instead)

1/4 cup Caesar dressing (creamy or vinaigrette style)

8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 slices

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

12 slices cooked bacon

2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices

1/4 cup butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet with No-Stick Cooking Spray. Unroll pizza crust dough on cookie sheet; press dough into 16x11-inch rectangle, pulling dough gently if necessary. Bake 9 to 16 minutes or until light brown. Cool about 15 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

2. Cut cooled pizza crust in half lengthwise and crosswise to make 4 rectangles. Remove rectangles from cookie sheet; cut each rectangle in half crosswise for a total of 8 squares.

3. On each of 4 crust slices, spread 1 teaspoon pesto; set aside. On each of remaining 4 slices, spread 1 tablespoon Caesar dressing. Place 2 cheese slices on each crust slice with Caesar dressing. Top cheese with pepper, 3 bacon slices, and 2 tomato slices. Top with remaining crust slices, pesto sides down.

4. Heat 12-inch skillet or cast-iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in skillet. Place 2 sandwiches in skillet. Place smaller skillet or saucepan on sandwiches to flatten slightly; keep skillet on sandwiches while cooking. Cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until bread is golden brown and crisp and fillings are heated. Remove from skillet; cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and sandwiches.

Kielbasa Wraps

 Sometimes, I get really sick of chicken and ground beef dinners.  It seems like they are the only two meat products that can be used in dinner preparation and there are only so many different things you can do to a chicken!  Every now and then we like to mix it up, espeicially when the name of the meal sounds cool, as in "Kielbasa Wraps", come on, I know you want to say it out loud, try it it' fun!

That said, it is also a cheap and tasty meal.

Kielbasa Wraps

(Kielbasa is the big sausage looking thingy that you get from the meat section, Hillshire Farms makes some good ones.)

1 pkg. Kielbasa (any flavor)

1 cup ketchup

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

Tortillas

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

White Rice prepared (enough for 4 servings)

Directions: 

1.  Cut the kielbasa into bite size pieces and brown in a frying pan.
2.  While the kielbasa is browning mix ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.  Add to the frying pan with the kielbasa and heat until thick and bubbling.
3.  Prepare rice according to package directions and mix with kielbasa sauce mixture.
4.  Heat tortillas for 20 seconds in the microwave, fill with kielbasa mixture, and top with cheese.

Country Fried Pork Chops

Country Fried Pork Chops
Recipe Courtesy of: Allrecipes.com
2 eggs
1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 pkg. saltine crackers crushed
3 tbsp vegetable oil

6 thin cut pork chops

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Whisk eggs with garlic powder and onion powder.

3.  Crush saltine crackers in a ziplock bag.

4.  Dredge pork chops in egg and seasoning mix, then shake with saltines.

5.  Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat.  Fry pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side.  Put pork chops in a lightly greased baking dish and bake for 45 minutes, turning once halfway through.

Bajio Pork Salad

I am in LOOOVE with Bajio's Pork, so I was super excited when I came across this recipe from the Bajio Operations Director, Bonnie El Halta.  She prepared the recipe for ABC 4 in Salt Lake.  You can view the link HERE.  Or just follow the recipe below.  You can also use the pork in burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, or whatever else you are feeling saucy for.

Bajio Pork Salad
Ingredients:
3 lbs of pork roast cut into baseball sized pieces
2 quarts of water
4 cups sliced white onions
¼ cup of salt
1 cup of sugar
Boil pork until tender (approximately 2 hours on a medium simmer)
*I actually put the pork like this in my crockpot and let it simmer on low all day, works great!

For the Marinade:Simmer together the following ingredients for 1 hour (Again, used the crockpot, turned to high for 1 hour)
4 cups enchilada sauce
1 cup dark sugar (used brown sugar)
2 cups soda water (couldn't find, so I substituted Sprite)
1 pkg taco seasoning of choice
Cook pork until tender.
Drain pork and shred with a fork, keeping the pork in the original cooking pot.
Pour hot marinade over shredded pork.
Keep warm.

Prepare salad with the following ingredients:
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Fresh cilantro
For family style, place salad ingredients in a large bowl.
Top with warm pork.
Add cilantro and lime as garnish.
Add a Ranch Style dressing as desired.

Pork Quesadilla
Using the pork recipe above:
Heat large 14” tortillas.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Add the pork.
Fold over the tortilla and cut into wedges

Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuits

This is a quick, easy, and cost effective dinner that I KNOW all of my family will eat!

SAUSAGE, EGG, AND CHEESE BISCUITS

Sausage Patties (I use pre-cooked that are found in the frozen breakfast foods section at Wal-Mart)

Refrigerator Biscuits

Eggs

Cheese

1. Cook biscuits according to package directions.

2. While waiting for the biscuits to bake, cook or prepare sausage patties.

3. Crack 6 eggs into a bowl and whisk them together and pour into a heated skillet that has been greased with butter.

4. Cook the eggs like an omlette rather than scrambling. Allow to cook through on one side, then carefully flip. Cut the omlette into 8 segments (one for each biscuit).

5. When the biscuits have cooked, cut each biscuit in half and fill with a sausage patty, egg segment, and piece of cheese.