Grits and Sausage Bake

This past weekend was our Supper Club. They decided to do breakfast for dinner, which we were thrilled about. Unfortunately, we got tied up and weren't able to make it on time. I had already prepared everything, so all I had to do was bake it off. Since we couldn't take it on Saturday night, we decided to have it for brunch after church yesterday. It is very good...it came from a small town Presbyterian cookbook. I've had my eye on it since January. Because it has sausage in it (which can be a pretty strong taste), the grits don't stand out as much as they do in the Grits Casserole. If you are looking for something different, give this a try.

Grits and Sausage Bake

3 c. water
3/4 c. quick grits
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
⅔ c. (5 oz.) can evaporated milk
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce (optional)
1 lb. sausage, cooked and drained
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8 inch square baking dish. Bring water to a boil in large saucepan; slowly stir in grits. Cover. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1-1/2 c. cheese, milk, garlic powder, pepper and hot sauce to grit. Stir until cheese melts. Add sausage and eggs; stir well. Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour. Top with remaining cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes to melt cheese. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Batter can be made the day before, cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking. Makes 6 servings.

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I am getting ready to make a VERY CUTE cake using Easter peeps this weekend for a family get together. Here's what you'll need:

yellow box cake
2 cans of chocolate icing
bag of chocolate chips
19 yellow chick peeps

Oven Pork Chops

I've made a return to the kitchen! I came across this recipe from the Junior League cookbook of my college town. The ingredients sound very unusual together, but I knew they would have to be good. (Because who wants to put something gross in a cookbook with their name attached to it? I DON'T!) Anyway, this was very easy and I had everything in my pantry/fridge that I needed. Yes, I am staying on my budget of $30/week for groceries. I'm even coming a little under. WOO HOO! This is the original recipe. I used 5 VERY THIN (because they are cheap!) pork chops.

Oven Pork Chops

6 pork chops

1 Tbsp. oil (I just sprayed some olive oil)

salt and pepper

1 can cream of chicken soup

3 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 medium onion, thinly sliced (I sauteed because The Dish Washer doesn't like crunch)

Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Brown chops in oil. Place drained chops in casserole dish. Combine chicken soup, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and onion, then pour over pork chops. Cover and place in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Carolyn's Pineapple Casserole

Poor Tossie is making her return to work today after having Baby Sister. I know she is sad about not being with Baby Sister during the day, but I also know she LOVES the folks she works with! (The ones I know, we LOVE too!!) See reasons here. Welcome back to work, Tos! I thought I would share some co-worker recipes today and tomorrow in honor of your return.

Carolyn's Pineapple Casserole

1 - 20 ounce can crushed pineapple
2 - 20 ounce cans chunked pineapple
8 large slices of bread without crust

Pour cans of pineapple over bread and let drain thoroughly.

Mix:
2 sticks softened oleo
8 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla and add to bread mixture mixing well.

Bake at 325 for 30-45 minutes until slightly brown in 11x13 baking dish.

Spinach Dip (Warm)

Speaking of Tossie and her church, I had the honor of going to her baby shower given by ladies from their Sunday school class. This was a phenomenal spinach dip. Now that I know what goes in it...NO WONDER!! Usually I prefer to make a cold spinach dip, which reminds me that I need to share that one. The only time I have ever had a warm spinach dip, it usually contains artichokes. I dont mind artichokes but this was a nice change for a warm spinach dip. It was so good that I could have easily eaten the whole bowl right then and there. I didn't want to embarass Tossie in front of her friend! HA! Maybe all of this enthusiasm for food is also why I now have a sign on my fridge saying "You are fat! Your clothes don't fit!" and one on my pantry "And you aren't buying new clothes, so suck it up!" I can still dream...

Spinach Dip from my Shower (Michelle Burns' recipe)

The recipe is doubled..
2 frozen chopped spinach
1 softened 8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup of mayo
2 cup of shredded mozzerella
1 cup grated parmesean
2 tbsp. of garlic salt

Stir together. Cook at 400 for 20 min. Voila!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

**ANOTHER GUEST POST FROM TOSSIE**

This is a recipe from the Apples of Gold Bible Study I did in '07. If you ever have one at your church, do it. You could teach the cooking part (the majority of my group knew how to cook but it was good to get new recipes and have someone cook for you). The lady that cooked for us looks like Paula Deen and cooks like her too!!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (Billboard Man loved these)

8 oz. pkg of cream cheese
1 small can of chopped Green Chilies
3-4 Chicken Breasts, cooked and chopped (I used 3)
1 pkg. Large Flour Tortillas
Salsa
1 pkg. Mexican Cheese
1 small (1/2 pint) container Whipping Cream

Combine in skillet cream cheese, green chilies, and chicken; cook until creamy. Soften tortillas according to package directions. Roll up tortillas with chicken mixture, 1 tsp. salsa and Mexican cheese. Place filled tortillas in greased 9x13 or two 9x9 pans, seam side down. Pour whipping cream and remaining Mexican cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

**I put the salsa in the chicken mixture - I used about 2 tablespoons.

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Back to Diana: This one sounds easier than the Chicken Enchiladas in Tomatilla Sauce I made earlier.

Lazy Girl's Green Bean Bundles

I lied! I did make something tonight that hasn't been on the blog yet! I love Green Bean Bundles, but they can be "fussy" just for the two of us to eat at home. I like to take my favorite bundle recipe and just throw it in a dish and bake. Less trouble = same great taste! I'm going to give the true bundle recipe, and then I will tell you what I did.

Green Bean Bundles

2 cans whole green beans
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. mustard
Bacon to wrap

Drain beans. Mix sugar and mustard. Pour over beans and mix well. Divide into bundles and wrap 1/2 slice bacon around each bundle and secure with a toothpick. Bake 30 minutes at 350.

**Since this is the lazy version, the beans don't have to be whole. This time I happened to use cut beans. (That I got on sale for $.36/can!) I drain and put in baking dish. Then I sprinkle the brown sugar and mustard and mix right in that dish togehter. Then I lay some bacon on top and bake following above directions or until bacon is crispy.

Enjoy!

Layered Salad

Saturday night was our supper club and I took this salad. (It went with a yummy Chicken Spaghetti, bread and chocolate!!) Sunday morning we woke up to our backyard looking like this:

Such a fun treat! There are still a few snow patches in the shaded spots, but for the most part all gone! That's southern snow for you! Now onto this recipe: Sister used to make this all the time for our family cook-out. I think it is supposed to be 7-layers, but she probably didn't like whatever that 7th layer (probably peas or something like that) was and decided to leave it out. That's why I just decided to call it Layered Salad.

Layered Salad

1 bg. lettuce

1 bg. spinach (end stems pinched off)
1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

8 eggs, hard boiled and chopped (original recipe called for 10)

Layer in order given. Mix the following and spread on top:

1 c. mayo

1/2 c. sour cream

1 pkt. ranch dressing mix

Toss with cheese before serving. (I went ahead and added my cheese to the layers and it turned out fine.)

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I am attempting to cut our grocery bill in half or better! So far pretty successful and now I am completely addicted to couponing! (Even though I just really started this weekend!) My favorite blog to read about couponing and saving is Southern Savers because everything is completely mapped out for me. I learn by doing, so this is teaching me how to look for and get the best deals! I was so sad to think about it because I like to cook such fun things on the spur of the moment and was thinking that was going to come to a screeching halt...UNTIL I saw this! She is teaming up with Southern Plate and will be coming up with recipes using all of our sale items! I'm so excited!! Check 'em out! The Dish Washer says I am the new CFO of our household and he is the CEO! I was cracking up thinking about this on the way to work this morning!