Buffalo Chicken Pie

2 c cooked chicken
½ c buffalo sauce
1 - 1 ½ c shredded cheddar
1 c chopped celery, carrots, onions, garlic mixed
1 c biscut mix
½ c yellow cornmeal
½ c milk
1 eggs
2/3 c ranch dressing

Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, toss chicken and Buffalo wing sauce until well coated. Stir in cheeses and celery. Pour into ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate.
In medium bowl, mix Bisquick mix, cornmeal, milk and egg. Pour over chicken mixture; spread to cover.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cut into wedges; drizzle with blue cheese dressing. Makes six servings, but would probably have to double for our fam.

Sweet and Savory Apple Pancake Bake

Here is the original recipe that inspired my version of this meal:

2 apples chopped into small bites
1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 pound of bacon (frozen for a bit and then sliced into thin bits for browning)
1 1/2 c baking mix
1 1/2 c milk
1 c. liquid eggs
4 tbsp brown sugar (divided)
4 tbsp real maple sugar (divided)
2 c. shredded cheddar
2 apples peeled and then diced

Spray two pie pans with baking spray and preheat oven to 375. Place the diced apples into the pie plates, one apple per plate. add the brown sugar to the apples and mix until well coated. In a separate bowl mix the eggs, baking mix and milk until  together, may be a bit lumpy. pour the baking mixture over the apples adding an equal amout to each pie plate. meanwhile brown the bacon in a pan, rending as much fat as possible (this means you brown on a low setting). Drain the bacon on towels and add the red onion to the hot oil and slowly carmelize the onion in the bacon drippings. Then add two tbsps each of the maple syrup to the pie pans of apple mixture. When the onions are browned and tender sprinkle half into each pie plate. Do the same with the bacon. I stirred each pie plate at this point to make sure everything was evenly distributed and that the maple syrup didn't just sink to the bottom. Then add the cheddar (half in each pie plate) and press it until it sinks under the batter. Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until it is golden and a tooth pick or knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Slice into eight pieces each and serve warm with more real maple syrup.

This is like a big apple/bacon/cheddar pancake...We enjoyed it!

Easter Menu Change...

After planing my menu for Easter dinner we figured the scheduled plan would not be enough and decided to make a caserole of the sweet potatoes instead of roasting them. Here is the recipe we found which I made some changes to.

Ingredients
8 sweet potato, baked until soft and then flesh removed to a bowl
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Mash sweet potato flesh first.
2.In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract and cinnamon. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish, greased baking dish.
3.In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour and pecans. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
4.Bake in the preheated oven 30-40 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

Black Bean Enchilada Lasagna

Here is the recipe that inspired this meal, but it simply added some inspiration.

But here's what I did...


Enchilada Sauce:
2 cans of tomato sauce
1 can of cream of chicken soup
3 tsp chopped fresh garlic
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
2 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt

Black Ben Filling
1 tbsp jarred jalapenos
1 half large onion chopped
2 tsp chopped fresh garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt or less( I didn't measure, just spinkled some)

12-13 corn tortillas
1-2 cups shredded cheese

What I did:

I put all the ingreds for the sauce in a large pot and brought it to a boil. I let my son Kace help me with this since it was pretty easy and he was able to measure and pour most of this and stir, so you know if my five-year-old can its easy. Then in a large skillet I heated the oil for the filling and added the onions, jalapenos and also the garlic and sauted on med until the onions were translucent, but not brown. I then added the salt and oregano until the oil was able to make the spice aromatic. Then the beans. I let them hang out with the other veggies until they were pipping hot and smelled yummy. Then I put a large spoonfull of the sauce into a greased 9x13 pan and then layered the first corn tortillas on, them layered sauce on top of them. The half the bean mixture and then someof the cheese. I repeated this and ended with tortillas and topped that with the reamining sauce. I baked in a preheated 350 oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and the sauce was nicely absorbed. It was really YUMMY!

Baked Teriyaki Chicken

Here is a GREAT new recipe I found for some boneless skinless chicken thighs that I had and some chicken breast that I addded to make a full meal.

and here is what I actually did with it!

1 c soy sauce
1/2 -3/4 c white sugar
1/3-1/2 cider vinegar
2 tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp corn starch
3 tbsp cold water

In a sauce pan over med/low heat I heated these ingreds. And then when they had thickened and darkened and tasted right. I coated the thighs and breats that I had already put in a greased 9x13. I simply poured enough over to cover both sides of the chicken, which wasn't too much. I then covered it with foil and placed it in a 425 oven for 30 minutes. I then removed the cover and baked another 20 minutes after turning the chicken over. I then shredded it and served it with some pasta I had made with some of the left over sauce! This was SOOO good and even had a ton extra! We could also have kept the teriyaki sauce in the fridge for prob a week or so, serving over just about anything. Such a versitile sauce! Remember this is not super sweet, but if you are uncomfortable with that much sugar make it with splenda, I bet it would be just as good, although you will probably have to up the corn starch amount. Happy eating!

Chicken Alfredo/Tomato Bake

2-3 boneless skinless chick breast sliced into thin strips
1-2 tbps olive oil
1-2 tsp chopped garlic
1 green, red or yellow pepper cut into strips (or a mix of all)
1/4 c. chopped procuito or ham
2 cups large egg noodles (cooked to package directions)
1 jar tomato pasta sauce or equivalent in homemade (about 15 or more ounces)
1 jar Alfredo or homemade Alfredo sauce ( about 15 ounces)
1/2 c Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350. Brown chicken in oil until cooked through. Add garlic and ham/prosciutto. Cook until garlic is tender but not burned and the prosciutto is a little browned. Then add the peppers, cook until tender, but still crisp. Add half the tomato sauce to the pan mixture. grease a 9x13 baking pan and then dump the skillet mixture into it. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Add the jar of Alfredo sauce, drizzling on the top in lines, it will not cover the top totally. Add the cheese on top. Bake 20-30 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve immediately with garlic bread and salad! YUMMY! This is one of our favorite recipes, easy to fix and definitely comfort food. The kids love it. We don't eat it too often, but when we do we rarely have leftovers.

New Recipe: Penne with Ricotta and Bacon

1 pound penne
8 slices bacon (about 1/2 pound)
½ large onion, sliced
15 ounces whole-milk ricotta cheese, at room temperature
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tsp chopped fresh garic or one garlic clove chopped
sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes

1.In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne until al dente. Reserve one ladle of cooking water, then drain the pasta and transfer to a serving bowl. In a medium skillet, fry the bacon until crisp and transfer to a plate, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet. Add the onions to the skillet and cook until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir the onions and ricotta into the pasta along with the reserved pasta cooking water. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle it over the pasta, here I would actually add an additional step, I would pour everything except the basil into a baking dish and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until it is nice and hot. I would even top it with a little parm or mozzarella. After taking it from the oven I would top with the basil then.

I tried this first exactly to the specification on the web page, but after sitting down and it getting cold I was ready to make a few changes. I woud also not mind subbing in dried basil flakes into the ricotta instead of fresh. My kids didn't like the wilted salad in their pasta and picked all of it out, which is not usual for them. This recipe is very filling, we had left overs and everyone was stuffed after one serving, I even ate less than I thought I would, not because it wasn't good. I also WOULD NOT add any extra salt.

Here's the original recipe!

Cheesy Obrien egg casserole

1 28 oz pkg obrien frozen potatoes
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled (I don't usually use that much bacon unless I am serving more than just my family!)
12 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
2 c shredded cheddar

In large skillet cook hashbrowns how you like them, we like 'em crispy. Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Place in a greased 13x9 inch baking dish. Top with soup. Sprinkle with 1/2 bacon. In another skillet or the same one (your preference) scramble eggs in butter until nearly set. Spoon over bacon. Spinkled with shredded cheese and remaining bacon. Bake uncovered at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese has melted and eggs are done.

Cajun Chicken Lasagna

Several Years ago I found this awesome recipe in BHAG. It is a great alternative to tomato lasagna, which I am not to hep on but my hubbyy loves....so we compromise with this!


Cajun Chicken Lasagne Recipe.

Try it out and see if you don't love it too!!

Ingredients
16 dried lasagna noodles
1 pound andouille sausage or smoked pork sausage, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
2 to 3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 10-ounce containers refrigerated light Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Nonstick cooking spray
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degree F. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain; rinse. Combine sausage, chicken, Cajun seasoning, and sage. In a large skillet cook meat mixture 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon, reserving drippings in skillet. Set meat mixture aside; keep warm. In same skillet cook onion, celery, sweet pepper, and garlic in drippings until vegetables are tender. Stir in meat mixture, one container of the Alfredo sauce, and Parmesan cheese.

2. Lightly coat a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or 3-quart rectangular casserole with nonstick spray. Arrange 4 noodles in bottom of dish. Spread with 2 cups of the meat-vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Repeat layers, ending with noodles. Carefully spread remaining Alfredo sauce over the top (if sauce is too thick, heat slightly). Cover; bake 1 hour or until heated through. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before carefully cutting. Makes 12 servings.

Egg Casserole

2 C croutons or bread (wheat works fine, if using homemade you could make the bread into croutons)
1/2 c shredded cheddar
4 slices bacon, crumbled or 1/2 c sausage crumbled (if I don't have this I use whateve I have sauted veggies or extra cheese)
2 c milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp dried mustard
1/2 tsp onion powder

in a greased 8x8 in pan. add the croutons and the cheese to the pan. In a bowl cobine the eggs, milk, and seasonings and mix until blended. Pour egg mix over croutons and cheese. top with bacon, sausage or your choice of topping. Bake at 325 for 55-60 minutes. serve immediately!

Chili Rellenos Casserole

This is one of my hubs favorite meals, he loves chili rellenos and this is an easy sub for that. I would like to try it with some poblano peppers that have been roasted in the oven, peeled and then diced! SO YUMMY!

1 can whole green chilis (7oz) or you can roast and peel your own, I like to get chopped green chilis or chop my own.
1 1/2 c shredded coby jack cheese
3/4 lb ground beed
1/4 c chopped onion
1 c. milk
4 eggs
1/4 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Split the chilis you are using, if you are using chopped canned drain well. Arrange the chilis on the bottom of a greased 2 qt baking dish. Top with cheese. In a skillet brown beef and onion, drain. Spoon over cheese. In a bowl, mix eggs, milk flour and seasonings until smooth. Pour over beef/pepper mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.

Chicken Spaghetti

Cook chicken in water on stove and then remove and chop. Cook 1 lb spaghetti and 1 chopped onion in broth made by the boiled chicken until done, Drain off only the left over water. Add 2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken and 1 small can chopped pimentos and chicken. Mix throughly. Serve warm.

Manicotti

1 box jumbo shells (I don't like using the actual manicotti shells as they are seriously hard to stuff and rather large for my little'uns to eat.)
16 oz tub ricotta (I try to use the part skim)
2-4 c shredded mozzarella
1-2 tsp dried basil
Large Jar Pasta Sauce or homemade pasta sauce 4-5 cups worth
Couple handfuls of shredded parmesan cheese

Begin by cooking the shells according to box directions, but make sure to under cook them a little or they will fall apart and not absorb some of the tomato sauce. While pasta is cooking mix in a large bowl the mozz, ricotta and basil. When the shells are done and you have cooled them and dried them on paper towels, spray one or two 13x9 inch baking pans and add about 1/4 cup of sauce to each and spread on the bottom of the pan! Start by filling each shell with 2-3 tbsps of mix, you can shove them as full as you want to or as little as you want. Line them pretty close in the pan. When you have filled them all, pour the remaining sauce over all the shells and then top with shredded parm. Bake for 20-30 minutes in a 350 oven or until the cheese is melted and the sauce hot. Serve with a salad and garlic bread! Yummy!!! I never have complaints when serving this one!

Italian Chicken and Rice Dish- Two Variations

4 chicken breasts
2 c. chicken broth
1/2 - 1 bottle Italian dressing
2 c. uncooked rice
1 bag frozen vegetables

Marinate chicken in dressing 4-5 hours. In an oblong pan put in rice, broth and vegetables, then the chicken along with the marinade. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.

Or a variation:

6 lg. pieces chicken

1 (8 oz.) bottle Kraft (free) Italian dressing, 1cup.
1 1/2 c. rice
1 c. water
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix in a large casserole dish, rice, water and chicken. Then pour Italian dressing over the top. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

One Might not think this dish has a lot of flavor, but it is LOADED with taste! The kids love it!