Casserole & One Pot Meals

New Farm Animals

Dear Sis,

Today after nap time William got another package. This one was from Amazon. William had filled a chore/potty sticker chart a few days before and he decided he would like some farm animals as his reward. We found a great toy barn at the annual yard sales this year for $1.00. He has been using it as a parking garage for his matchbox cars, but has been asking for animals for a while. I kept telling him he’d have to do more chores and use the potty. Yes, I’m that Mom!

I reheated Cheeseburger Soup for dinner and I finally remembered to take a picture so I can share the recipe:)

Cheeseburger Soup
Serves 8
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Ingredients
  1. 1 lb. lean ground beef
  2. 1 t ground pepper
  3. 1 t salt
  4. 1 t garlic powder
  5. 1 t Italian seasoning
  6. 4 T butter, divided
  7. 1 onion, chopped
  8. 3 stalks celery, diced
  9. 3 carrots, peeled & grated
  10. 1 T garlic, minced
  11. 3 c chicken stock
  12. 1 1/2 t basil
  13. 2 lb. potatoes, peeled & chopped
  14. 1/4 c unbleached flour
  15. 1 1/2 c whole milk
  16. 8 oz sharpe cheddar, shredded
Instructions
  1. Brown beef in a skillet with pepper, salt, garlic power, and Italian seasoning. Transfer to a stock pot.
  2. Melt 1 T butter in skillet and sauté onion, celery, carrot, and garlic until tender. Transfer to stock pot.
  3. Add stock, bail, and potatoes to stock pot. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
  4. In a saucepan, melt remaining 3 T butter. Stir in flour to make a roux. Stir in milk gradually and cook stirring until thick. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Pour cheese sauce into stock pot and stir until smooth.
Notes
  1. We really like fresh baked biscuits with this soup! If you don't have time for homemade, bake frozen biscuits. They are every bit as good as homemade and don't have the weird taste and texture that refrigerated biscuits do.
  2. Leftovers can be frozen.
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

Chicken Fried Rice

Dear Sis,

Today we made homemade Chicken Fried Rice. It was better than Chinese take-out. More chicken and move veggies:) If you have any leftovers they can be frozen for later, and then thawed and reheated.

 

Chicken Fried Rice
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 2-3 T avocado oil
  2. 1/2 lb. chicken breast, diced
  3. 3 eggs, beaten
  4. 3/4 c broccoli florets, chopped
  5. 3/4 c carrot, peeled and chopped
  6. 2 t minced garlic
  7. 1/2 c frozen peas
  8. 1/4 c green onion, chopped
  9. 4 c cooked rice of choice
  10. 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
  11. 3 T maple syrup
  12. 2 T butter, melted
  13. 1 T dried onion flakes
Instructions
  1. Panfry chicken in 1 T oil until cooked through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Add an additional T oil if needed and fry eggs. Set aside.
  3. Add an additional T oil if needed and sauté broccoli, carrots, and garlic until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add peas and scallions and heat through.
  4. Add rice to pan and stir until heated through. Add chicken and eggs.
  5. Combine soy sauce, syrup, butter, and onion flakes. Pour over fried rice mixture and stir until well combined.
Adapted from Freezer to Table
Adapted from Freezer to Table
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

 

Sausage Spinach Pasta Bake to Freeze

Dear Sis,

Tried another freezer meal today. Super yummy!

Sausage Spinach Pasta Bake
Serves 4
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Ingredients
  1. 2 (8x8 inch) foil pans
  2. 1 T avocado oil
  3. 1 (12 oz) pkg. chicken sausage, sliced
  4. 2 c fresh spinach
  5. 1 lb. pasta of choice
  6. 1 (25 oz) jar pasta sauce
  7. 1 c fresh basil, chopped
  8. 1/2 c Parmesan, grated
  9. 4 c shredded mozzarella
Instructions
  1. Sauté sliced sausage in 1 T oil until browned. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
  2. Prepare pasta according to package instructions.
  3. Combine sausage, spinach, pasta, sauce, basil, Parmesan, and 2 c mozzarella. Pour half into each foil pan. Top each pan with 1 c mozzarella.
  4. Cover each pan in plastic and foil. Label, date, and write cooking instructions on each foil cover.
Cooking Instructions
  1. Thaw completely in refrigerator.
  2. Preheat oven to 425.
  3. Bake 20 minutes.
  4. Serve with garlic toast and side salads.
Adapted from The Ultimate New Mom's Cookbook
Adapted from The Ultimate New Mom's Cookbook
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

The fresh spinach and basil make the dish!

Love,

b

 

Thanksgiving

Dear Sis,

We made way to much food for 2.5 people! …but it is all yummy and leftovers guarantee I don’t have to work very hard the next few days to feed my family. 

William’s eyes got very big when he saw his very full plate and a full set of utensils!

Our Thanksgiving Menu

Roasted Turkey Breast & Gravy 

Cheesy Potato Casserole & Creamed Corn

Cracker Barrel Carrots & Green Bean Mushroom Casserole

Pecan Streusel Sweet Potato Casserole

Homemade Crescent Rolls

1860s Pumpkin Pudding & Pear Pie

We have had this dish at other dinner parties, but we had never tried it ourselves. We decided we like it best without the corn flakes and extra butter. The recipe below includes these preferential adjustments.

Cheesy Potato Casserole
Serves 12
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Ingredients
  1. 28 oz frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed and drained
  2. 2 c shredded cheddar cheese
  3. 1 (16 oz) tub sour cream
  4. 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
  5. 1/2 c salted butter, melted
  6. 1 t garlic powder
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients. Spread into a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
  2. Bake 45-60 minutes at 350. Cool 15 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Lil Luna
Adapted from Lil Luna
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Surprisingly, this is a recipe Josh found and made for us a few times. Tonight he was kind enough to share his source.

Cracker Barrel Style Carrots
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 2 lb. fresh baby carrots
  2. 2 T salted butter
  3. 1 T brown sugar
  4. pinch nutmeg
  5. pinch salt
Instructions
  1. Place carrots in a large saucepan. Cover with water and simmer until soft 30-45 minutes.
  2. Drain two-thirds of the water. Stir in the butter, sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Serve warm.
Adapted from CopyKat Recipes
Adapted from CopyKat Recipes
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

 

I’ve always liked the premise of Green Bean Casserole… green beans and mushrooms basking in yummy creaminess. However, I’ve never tasted the perfect balance before tonight. Fresh beans and mushrooms are a must! 

Green Bean Mushroom Casserole
Serves 8
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Ingredients
  1. 1 1/4 lb. fresh green beans, washed & trimmed
  2. 8 oz mushrooms, finely chopped
  3. 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
  4. 3/4 c whole milk
  5. 1/2 t ground pepper
  6. 3/4 c fried onions
Instructions
  1. Place beans in a large stock pot and boil until al' dente, 10-15 minutes. Drain.
  2. Stir in mushrooms, soup, milk, and pepper. Pour into a square casserole dish.
  3. Top with fried onion. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes.
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Again, I’ve loved the idea on Sweet Potato Casserole, but I’ve never had one that wasn’t too sweet for my liking until tonight.

Pecan Streusel Sweet Potato Casserole
Serves 12
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  1. 3 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  2. 1/4 c half and half
  3. 2 T butter
  4. 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
  5. 1/8 t salt
Pecan Streusel Topping
  1. 1/2 c pecans, crushed
  2. 1/4 c brown sugar
  3. 1/4 c butter, soft
  4. 1/4 c unbleached flour
  5. 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
  6. 1/8 t salt
  7. 2 c mini marshmallows
Instructions
  1. Place sweet potatoes in a large pot. Cover with water and boil until tender, 10-15 minutes. Drain.
  2. Mash cooked sweet potatoes with remaining ingredients and spread into a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
  3. For topping, cream together all ingredients except marshmallows.
  4. Sprinkle 1 c marshmallows over mashed sweet potatoes. Top with broken up bits of pecan streusel. Sprinkle with remaining marshmallows.
  5. Bake casserole 15-20 minutes, or until marshmallows are golden, at 375.
Adapted from Celebrating Sweets
Adapted from Celebrating Sweets
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

I used to make homemade crescents all the time, but haven’t since Josh and I were dating. I’m glad I brushed off this old favorite:)

Homemade Crescent Rolls
Yields 12
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 c warm water
  2. 1 T dry active yeast
  3. 1/2 c butter, melted
  4. 1/2 c milk or half n half
  5. 1/3 c sugar
  6. 1/2 t salt
  7. 1 egg
  8. 3 1/2 - 4 c unbleached flour
Instructions
  1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
  2. Whisk together melted butter, milk, and sugar. Beat in dissolved yeast and egg.
  3. Add 1/2 c flour at a time, stirring between additions. Knead until smooth.
  4. Grease dough and rise 1 hour.
  5. Preheat oven to 350.
  6. Roll dough into a large circle. Cut into 12 wedges and roll up from the wide end. Shape into crescents and arrange on two baking sheets. Bake 12-18 minutes, until golden and baked through.
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Pumpkin Pudding

Ingredients:

1 fine sweet pumpkin

6 eggs

1/4 pound of butter

1/2 pink of new milk

ginger

nutmeg

1 wine glass of brandy

sugar

paste

Instructions:

Stew the pumpkin till soft and dry; rub it through a sieve, mix with the pulp the eggs quite light, butter, milk, some powdered ginger and nutmeg, the brandy, and sugar to your taste. Should it be too liquid, stew it a little drier, put a paste round the edges, and in the bottom of a shallow dish or place; pour in the mixture, cut some thin bits of paste, twist them, and law them across the top, and bake it nicely.

The Virginia Housewife (1860)

Pumpkin Pudding
Serves 8
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Ingredients
  1. 1 (9 inch) refrigerated pie shell
  2. 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
  3. 6 eggs
  4. 3/4 c whole milk
  5. 1/2 c granulated sugar
  6. 1/2 c salted butter, melted
  7. 1/4 c brandy
  8. 1 t ground ginger
  9. 1/2 t ground nutmeg
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425. Unroll pie shell into a pie plate. Piece with a fork to vent.
  2. Place puree into a large mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
  3. Beat in remaining ingredients as listed. Pour into prepared pie plate.
  4. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 and bake 40-50 minutes more. Cool completely before serving.
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Sweet Crumb Pear Pie
Serves 8
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Ingredients
  1. 1 (9 inch) refrigerated pie shell
  2. 6-8 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
  3. 2 T granulated sugar
  4. 1 T cornstarch
  5. 1/2 t cinnamon
  6. 1/4 t nutmeg
  7. 1/8 t salt
  8. 1 c unbleached flour
  9. 1/2 c packed dark brown sugar
  10. 1/2 c unsalted butter, cold
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425. Place pie shell in a pie plate and piece with a fork to vent.
  2. Toss pears with granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour over crust.
  3. For sweet crumb topping, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over spiced pears.
  4. Bake 15 minutes. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes more. Cool.
Adapted from Mostly Homemade Mom
Adapted from Mostly Homemade Mom
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

b

Swedish Meatball Pasta

Dear Sis,

We tried another recipe that works for the whole family, big and small:) 

Swedish Meatball Pasta
Serves 4
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Meatballs
  1. 1 lb. ground beef
  2. 1/2 c Italian bread crumbs
  3. 1/2 onion, chopped
  4. 1 egg
  5. 1 1/2 t pepper
  6. 1 1/2 t salt
  7. 2 T avocado oil
Pasta and Sauce
  1. 2 c beef stock
  2. 2 c milk
  3. 1 T Worcestershire
  4. 1/2 t pepper
  5. 1/2 t salt
  6. 8 oz pkg egg noodles
  7. 1 c Parmesan, shredded
  8. 1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
  1. Combine beef, crumbs, onion, egg, pepper, and salt until evenly mixed. Shape into 2 dozen meatballs.
  2. Heat oil in a large heavy sauté pan over medium high heat. Brown meatballs for 3 minutes, turning every minute.
  3. Add stock, milk, Worcestershire, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil.
  4. Stir in pasta. Return to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook covered, stirring every few minutes, for 8 minutes, or until pasta is cooked through.
  5. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan and parsley.
Adapted from tasty
Adapted from tasty
Tag Sis, You're It! http://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b