Breakfast Casserole

This is an awful picture. I know. Eggs are one of those things that I always have trouble photographing. It is just so hard to make them look appetizing. Anyways.

So, eggs were on sale for $.88 last week, so I tried to plan my meals around that. When we went to the beach a couple of weeks ago, my sister made a breakfast casserole, and my boyfriend really enjoyed it (but really, I think you could put sausage on dog poop and there is a good chance he would eat it!). Sorry, that was disgusting.

I modified her recipe a little to spice things up a bit. We both love spicy food, so I figured I would go in that direction. All in all, it turned out good. It was gone in 2 days. That's usually a pretty good indicator.

Ingredients:
6-8 eggs
1 lb. sausage, browned and drained
1 c. shredded cheddar
1 c. shredded mozzarella or Swiss cheese (I used Mexican blend)
2 c. half and half
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
10 slices of bread, torn in bite size pieces (I used Jalapeno Cheese bread)

Directions:
Grease a 9x13 pan and layer with bread, sausage and then cheese.

Combine all the other ingredients in a bowl and mix. Pour over the bread.

Cook right away or let sit in the refrigerator overnight.

Cover in foil and bake 45-60 minutes at 350.

Yield: 6 servings (or so)

Source: My sister

Penne A La "Not-Ka"

This is by far the very best recipe I have made in a long time. It was SOOOO good! Next time I will probably make a double batch so I have plenty of leftovers! I was flipping through channels a few weeks ago and came across the show on Lifetime "Cooking Yourself Thin" - now, I will watch just about any cooking show. And the recipes they were making on this show just looked so good, as well as good for you. So, I wrote a few down. This was the first one I made and it was just so awesome that I can't wait to try more! AND, I didn't even cut the onions out of the recipe like I usually do! :)

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
3 gloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. chopped red onion (I used vidalia onion)
3/4 tsp. salt
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, pureed
Pinch red pepper flakes
8 oz. penne pasta
1/4 c. heavy cream
6 tbsp. evaporated non-fat milk
1/3 c. grated Parmesan
1/4 c. shredded basil
1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

In a saucepan, heat oil and garlic. Add onions and 1/4 tsp salt. Cover and cook 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes, 1/2 tsp. salt and red pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat and then simmer gently for 10 minutes.

Stir in the cream and evaporated milk and simmer 1 more minute.

Meanwhile, cook pasta (about 6 minutes).

Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 c. pasta water.

Add pasta to sauce and simmer 1-2 minutes, adding pasta water if dry.

Stir in Parmesan, basil and pepper.

Drizzle each serving with olive oil and Parmesan.

Yield: 4 servings

Source: http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin/recipes

Cake Mix Cookies

I'm always looking for super easy recipes using pantry staples - I like to have "go-to" recipes that don't require any shopping, just in case I need something quick! This is definitely one of those recipes. And I think there are so many different things you could do with this!

You could pick a variety of cake mixes. You could add peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, nuts, whatever you want. These were super easy - definitely a 20 minute recipe, start to finish, including baking time. The cookies are really yummy. Very chewy and soft and thick. I mixed in some chocolate chips to the second batch to see how they would turn out.

I think next time, I will use a chocolate cake mix and mix in peanut butter chips - you just can't beat peanut butter and chocolate!

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. flour

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together.

Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 11 minutes.

Yield: about 2 dozen cookies

Source: www.kitchenscrapbook.com

No Bake Oatmeal Cookie Balls

When I saw this recipe I immediately wanted to make it! I am all about no bake cookies in the summer - I have a very tiny condo and turning on the oven gets it really hot, really quick! Plus, this was one of those "pantry" recipes that required no grocery store trip. Always a plus.

Unfortunately, I will probably not be making these again. I have never really liked the taste of uncooked oatmeal, but I was willing to try it again. Maybe they will taste better in the morning after they have a chance to get all the butter soaked in and everything. So, we'll see.

Ingredients:
2 c. rolled oats
3/4 c. sugar
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 c. powdered sugar

Directions:
Combine oats, sugar and cocoa.

Mix in all the other ingredients except the powdered sugar.

Wash hands, and then roll dough into 1 inch balls and then roll in powdered sugar.

Chill for 20 minutes.

Yield: about 2 dozen

Source: www.tasteandtellblog.com

Thai Peanut Chicken Saute

I'm baaaa-aaaack!!!! I got a brand new laptop and I am back in business!!! So far, everything is going great - except for lovely Windows Vista of course! But, beggars can't be choosers, right?

So, I really haven't been doing that much cooking the last month or so. You know how summer is - vacations, etc. Lots of stuff going on. I made this a few weeks ago and the boy really liked it. This is definitely something I would make again!

Ingredients:
1/2 package rice noodles
1 lb. chicken, thinly sliced
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 carrot, julienned
1/2 c. peanut sauce
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
1 handful of peanuts, chopped

Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions.

Heat oil and add chicken. Saute until cooked and set aside.

Add peppers and saute about 3 minutes. Add carrot and saute another minute and set aside.

Add peanut sauce and bring to a boil.

Drain noodles and add noodles and chicken to pan.

Remove from heat, mix in the vegetables and cilantro and garnish with peanuts.

Yield: 4 servings

Source: adapted from www.closetcooking.com, Thai Peanut Pork Noodle Saute

Spicy Shrimp Wraps

First of all, I apologize for the lack of picture for this post! I am having some major computer issues and pictures are just NOT working right now for me! Hopefully, I will be getting a new computer in the next couple of weeks and I can get back to posting!

So, this was a super easy recipe. I had everything done in under 10 minutes! And even better, the boy liked it! :)

Ingredients:
1 8 oz. package frozen jerk shrimp (or make your own, if you aren't lazy like me)
1 chorizo sausage, casing removed
1/2 c. red pepper, thinly sliced
2 tortillas or wraps
2 c. spinach
4 tbsp. goat cheese

Directions:
Cook shrimp according to the package directions. Throw in the chorizo and red pepper with the shrimp.

While everything is cooking, lay out the tortillas and place 1 cup of spinach on each, followed by 2 tbsp. of goat cheese.

Spoon the shrimp mixture over the spinach and cheese.

Roll up the tortilla and microwave for 10 seconds to melt the cheese.

Yield: 2 very large servings

Cocoa Says What?

Is this a tired puppy or what? We have been staying at my parents' house since last Thursday while they were out of town and they got back this afternoon. Needless to say, Cocoa missed her toys, her bones and apparently, her sleep. :)

P.S. Don't you just love the giant bone? :)