Macaroni and Cheese Bites are a hearty appetizer for any occasion. Bake them in tart pans for Bitty Bites. Bake them in a regular muffin tin for a big guy appertizer or a light meal. Serve them for a prom after-party, an informal wedding reception, a couples potluck, the Big Game Food Table. I’ve mentioned before that we like hearty appetizers for a light meal that is different and out of the ordinary for us. It takes 20 minutes to prepare the big macaroni muffins. If you do the prep as directed and multi task while the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking, you’ll feel less hurried during assembly. I used a small ladle to fill each muffin cup to the top. The recipe makes exactly 12. Serve hot. Garnish with fresh ground pepper and chopped parsley. If you ... [Read More]
cheese
Slow Cooker Sausage and Egg Casserole
Slow cooker Breakfast and Eggs Casserole is great for a crowd. And if you don't have a crowd, the leftovers for lunch the next day are great, too! I like to have casseroles for breakfast when we have guests. Usually we have some kind of activity planned and hearty breakfast keeps us going till lunch. This easy to make casserole fills the bill nicely. It is high in protein at 23 grams per serving for active people and just high enough in carbs at 18 grams to stick to the ribs. The eggs, well whisked, help keep this dish light. I use turkey sausage, but you can use your choice of sausage or even diced ham if you prefer. Precooked sausage crumbles speeds up preparation. In a time pinch, use frozen diced onions. The bell peppers add nutrition and color. Use any color. I had ... [Read More]
Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
This hearty Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is like a warm hug by the fire on a cold day. Loaded with potatoes, veggies and ham -- pure comfort food. It’s also quick and easy to prepare and is ready to eat in about half an hour. I buy ham after major holidays at a reduced price just for delicious treats like this throughout the year. I slice, dice and cube chunks of the ham and freeze them in quart sized zipper bags in 2 cup portions. It only takes a quick trip to the freezer when the mood strikes for a super hearty – omlet, casserole or whatever. An unexpected early – early – fall snow was the inspiration for this wonderful soup. Thaw the ham before cooking, either by setting it in the refrigerator overnight, putting it in a pan of hot water for a couple of hours, or a 1-2 minutes in ... [Read More]
Slow Cooker Southwestern Breakfast Casserole
Southwestern Breakfast Casserole made in the slow cooker is a great way to wake up in the morning. It's yummy enough -- and pretty enough -- to serve guests even when you've stayed up late the night before. I am always up around 3 in the morning so putting it in the crockpot to cook for 3 - 4 hours before breakfast is not a problem. Another alternative is to start it cooking before bed and program the slow cooker to keep it warm after cooking until needed. If you must, put the casserole in the slow cooker insert, cover and put it in the refrigerator, set your phone for the right time to allow for 4 hours cooking. When the alarm sounds slip down to the kitchen, put the insert in the crockpot, turn it on and head back to bed. It's worth it! You know I am not a spice fan -- but if ... [Read More]
Crispy Ritz Cheesy Chicken
The whole family loves this cheesy baked chicken! And it is quick and easy to put together with a 45 minutes bake time so perfect for a quick dinner after work. 10 minutes of prep time and use the 45 minutes of bake time to do whatever else is priority. Keep one of the kids busy by letting them crush the butter crackers while you pull the rest of the ingredients out of the refrigerator and set up the prep station. I used Ritz crackers, but other brands of similar crackers will also work. I smashed mine in the sleeve itself, just squeezing the wrapped crackers until they were crumbly. You might need to use a heavy glass or other object to finish the job. You want to leave the crumbs small enough to stick, but large enough to provide some texture. A balancing act like so much of ... [Read More]
Cheesy Egg and Sausage Bake
Hearty, filling and delicious, great for a busy day breakfast, this dish is low carb and a good source of protein. It’s the perfect solution for what to feed a group for breakfast. Pop it in the oven, prepare coffee, add bakery cinnamon rolls (or your own made ahead) and/or slices of melon and you have a memorable breakfast for a holiday or overnight guests. Slabs of Cheesy Baked Egg and Sausage make a good brinner dish too. You know – brinner – breakfast for dinner. It is satisfying in a stick to your ribs, comfort food kind of way. To make ahead, mix whisked eggs, and cheeses together and refrigerate overnight. Brown sausage or bacon and refrigerate. Add melted butter, flour and baking powder the next morning before pouring into prepared baking pan and popping in the oven. ... [Read More]
