Polka Time

Photo Credit

This is a recipe in preparation for our trip to Chicago.  I had received this recipe from my sister in law, Shannon McCart.

SAUSAGE, SAUERKRAUT, AND NOODLE CASSEROLE

• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup

• 1 1/3 cups of  milk

• 1 garlic clove

• 32 oz sauerkraut

• 8 oz med egg noodles

• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs kielbasa

• 2 cups Swiss or Cheddar cheese- shredded

• 3/4 cups whole wheat bread crumbs

• 2 tablespoons butter- melted

• 1 teaspoons garlic powder

• 1 teaspoons onion powder

• 1 tablespoons parsley flakes

Combine soup, milk, onion, and garlic clove in medium bowl.  Place sauerkraut in 13 x 9 pan.  Top with uncooked egg noodles.  Spoon soup mixture evenly over top.  Top with kielbasa, then shredded cheese.  Combine bread crumbs, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley in bowl, sprinkle over top.  Cover tightly with foil and back 350 for 1 hour.

The Power of Spinach

Photo Credit

The sausage and spinach really compliment each other.  A distinct possibility for your Holiday feast.  

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND SPINACH CASSEROLE

(This is a Better Homes and Gardens Recipe)

• 3/4 pound fresh Italian sausage links
• 2 packages (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 can (15-19 oz.) white kidney beans (cannelloni) or great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• ¾ cup evaporated skim milk
• ½ cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 teaspoons margarine or butter, melted

In a large skillet cook sausage over medium heat about 8 minutes or until no pink remains, turning often.  Drain on paper towels.  Slice into bite-size pieces.

In a large mixing bowl combine cooked sausage, spinach, beans, onion, milk, 1/4 cup of the cheese, lemon peel, lemon juice, nutmeg, and pepper.  Turn into a greased 2 quart oval or square baking dish.

For topping, in a small mixing bowl combine bread crumbs, remaining ¼ cup of the cheese, garlic, and melted butter; sprinkle on top of casserole.  Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 35 minutes or until heated through.

Mexican Fiesta

Photo Credit

Are you looking an easy Mexican meal that everyone will love?  Try this casserole, you will really enjoy it.


EASY ENCHILADA CASSEROLE


• 1 can (16 oz.) tamales

• 1 can (16 oz.) chili without beans

• 1 medium onion, very thinly sliced

• 2 cups corn chips, broken

• 6 oz. mild cheddar, sliced

• Sour cream

• Black olives

Unwrap tamales, if necessary, and cut crosswise into ½ inch slices. Line a 1 and ½ quart casserole with half of the tamale slices. Spread half of the chili over the slices. Top chili with half of the onions, half of the chips , and half of the cheese. Repeat layers, except for the remaining cheese. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven roe 25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese slices. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes more. After baking, top each portion with sour cream and sliced black olives for a distinct taste.

Sausage Time

Photo Credit

If you like sausage, you will like this recipe.

SMOKED SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

• 1 package (16 oz.) HILLSHIRE FARMS SMOKED SAUSAGE
• 1 package (20 oz.) frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ¼ cup melted butter or margarine
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick spray.  Cut sausage into ½ inch cubes.  Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  Spread mixture evenly in a prepared pan.  Bake 45-50 minutes or until lightly browned.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Tuna Mac

This is a simple variation to the old classic.

TUNA MACARONI SALAD

• 16 ounces of elbow macaroni
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup of Dijon mustard
• 12 ounces of solid albacore tuna
• 1 cup of shredded cheese (Mexican blend)
• 1/4 cup of chopped red onion

Boil macaroni.  While the macaroni is boiling add the remaining ingredients to a large bowl and stir.  Add macaroni to the bowl and stir some more.  Serve and enjoy.

Cheeseburger Casserole

I found this easy recipe from Bisquick.  It literally is a cheeseburger without the bun.

IMPOSSIBLY EASY CHEESEBURGER PIE

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup Original Bisquick mix
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.  In a skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is cooked.  Drain the beef.  Stir in salt.  Spread in pie plate; sprinkle with cheese

Stir remaining ingredients in a medium bowl with wire whisk or fork until blended.  Pour into pie plate.

Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean  

Something is Fishy

Photo Credit

This is a simple recipe that will not leave you hungry.

TUNA ALFREDO CASSEROLE


(This is a Better Homes and Garden Recipe)

• 3 cups dried rigatoni or penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons purchased dried tomato pesto
• 1 (10 oz.) container refrigerated Alfredo or four-cheese pasta sauce
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 (12 oz.) can water-pack solid white tuna, drained and broken into chunks
• ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a Dutch oven cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain well; return to pan.  Meanwhile, in a bowl combine pesto, Alfredo sauce, and milk.  Add to pasta, stirring gently to coat.  Gently fold in tuna.

Transfer pasta mixture to a 2 quart oval or rectangular baking dish.  Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is just melted.

Mixed Bag

A nice casserole recipe that I received from my mother in law, Kathleen Wisler.  Kathleen is the owner of Refresh and Redesign which is an interior refining company.

SWISS VEGETABLE MEDLEY

• 1 (16 ounce) frozen bag of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, thawed an drained
• 1 (10.5 ounce) cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup of shredded swiss cheese
• 1/3 cup of sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 (4 ounce) jar of chopped pimiento, drained
• 1 (2.8 ounce) fried onions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients except a 1/2 cup of cheese, and 1.4 ounces of the fried onions.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients and bake for an additional 5 minutes.   

Potato Cheese

Photo Credit

This is a casserole I had that was made by sister in law Shannon McCart.  I have seen this recipe a few times including the link from the picture above.  Here is the recipe below.

CHEESY POTATOES

• 2 pounds of frozen hash browns (partially thawed)
• 1/2 cup of butter (melted)
• 1 - 10.5 ounce can of cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar)
• 1/4 cup of onion (diced)
• A dash of salt and pepper

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all of the ingredients to a bowl.  Add mixed ingredients to a casserole dish.  Bake for 1 hour.

Corn Bread Bacon

Next time you want to try something different with your corn bread, add a little sausage and bacon.  I used a pre cooked turkey sausage and bacon in which were submerged in the corn bread batter.  This is what you will need.

• Your favorite corn bread mix (I used Jiffy Corn Bread mix)
• Turkey bacon (pre cooked)
• Turkey sausage (pre cooked)

Cut the sausage into circles and wrap the bacon.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to have the bacon securely wrapped around the sausage.  Prepare the corn bread mix according to the directions.  Pour the corn bread mix into a baking pan.  Add the bacon wrapped sausage on top of the corn bread mix to your desired level.  Bake at according to the directions of the corn bread mix.  Depending on how much bacon wrapped sausage, you may have to bake longer.  Let it cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

Real Men Eat Quiche

Photo Credit

This is a traditional favorite.

SAUSAGE AND PEPPER QUICHE

• Pastry or crusts for 2 quiche
• 1 dozen eggs
• 2 cups light cream
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1 large green pepper, sliced in thin strips
• 1 large onion, sliced in thin strips
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Dash of oregano
• 4 links of Italian sausage, skin removed

Prepare pie shells.  Place sheet of foil in shell and fill with rice or beans to keep crust from puffing.  Bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes.  Remove foil and rice.  Cook sausage, pepper, and onions until sausage is crumbly and peppers and onions are golden.  Drain and arrange in pie shell.  Add Mozzarella and spices.  Beat eggs and cream lightly.  Pour into pie shells on top of sausage mixture.  Bake at 375 degrees until set and knife comes out clean.