Easy Sausage Alfredo

1 package jimmy dean italian flavored ground sausage
1 small red pepper chopped
1/2 large onion chopped

cook in large frying pan covered, check and stir often until sausage is cooked through, drain.

1 bottle ragu garlic alfredo sauce
black pepper (optional)

I used this on 1/2 lb. wheat penne pasta, but you could use any kind you want.

7 layer dip! {actually 6} ;)

this is the best 7-layer dip ever! i got the recipe from april, who has perfected it :) there's really only 6 layers and so i count the chips as the 7th ingredient! so this is as easy as it gets! get a 9x13 inch dish and start layering ...

1- 1 {16 oz} can vegetarian refried beans

2- fresh guacamole about {16 oz} you can buy pretty fresh guacamole at the store too!

3- 1 {12 oz} sour cream and mix taco seasoning, to taste

4- 1 {16 oz} salsa ... not too chuncky, again fresh is best!

5- 2 cups shredded cheese, i used the mexican mix but any cheese is good

6- 2 {2.25 oz} cans of sliced olives, drained

7- ... add some tortilla chips!

simple and great!!

Cheese Ball {goodness}!

I got this from Paige actually but it is the {best} cheese ball and has such good flavor! I love it with [wheat thins] or [chiken in a biskit] or [thin crisp triscuits].

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch buttermilk
½ cup mayo
½ cup milk
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredder cheddar cheese
[mix together, I usually add it all in my kitchenaid cuz it mixes smoother]

1 package Sliced almonds [mix 3/4 bag in the mixture and save some to on the saran wrap so when you put the mixture on top of it, it has pretty almonds on top!]

Mold into ball or 2 balls … cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for a few hours.

Easy Taco Meat

Sorry my last recipe wasn't Quick and Easy!
I've been trying to do a lot of things in the crockpot lately and I've been looking for some good ideas for sauces to cook chicken in. Lately I have just been putting chicken in the crockpot and covering it with salsa - it cooks pretty fast so I just keep checking it - and then I shred it up and use it with mexican dishes. This last time I just did burritos but Ken and I like to put in quesadillas with beans and cheese and bake it in the oven so its golden and toasty, then we top it with lettuce, tomato and sour cream!

Spooky Eyeball Tacos

K we are getting in the 'fall' mode and definately have some Halloween on the mind ... Bay talks about dressing up as Dorothy EVERY day! So I found this really cute, quick and easy recipe on Kraft foods and thought I'd share :)

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix
12 Taco Shells
3/4 cup Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
3/4 cup Sour Cream
1 can (2-1/4 oz.) sliced pitted ripe olives

MIX meat and seasoning mix. Shape into 36 (1-inch) balls; place in 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

BAKE at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through. Fill each taco shell with 1 meatball; drizzle with salsa. Top with 2 meatballs dipped in sour cream. Garnish with olives to make "eyeballs."

Crash Hot Potatoes ..... I got this recipe off The Pioneer Woman and made them last night. They ARE as good as they look!!!

New Potatoes (or other small, round potato), Olive Oil, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, and whatever herb you like. I used parsley
Begin by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil.
Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make, and cook them until they’re fork-tender. I put mine in a steamer.
Next, generously drizzle olive oil on a sheet pan.
This will mean the difference between the potatoes sticking and not sticking, so don’t be shy here
When the potatoes are tender, place them on the cookie sheet……Giving them plenty of room to spread out.
Next, grab your potato masher and gently press down on the potato until it slightly mashes…
Then rotate the masher 90 degrees and finish flattening it. Of course, you don’t want to absolutely smash it into the pan—you want it almost to resemble a cookie.

Next, brush the tops rather generously with olive oil.
Next, grab some Kosher salt. I used sea salt. And be generous with fresh ground black pepper
Now, you can grab some chives…or thyme…or whatever herbs you have available and sprinkle over the top
Now throw them onto the top rack of a very hot (450-degree) oven, and cook them for 20-25 minutes…Or until they’re golden and crispy and sizzling.

Grilled Cheese!

I'm sure everyone's done these at some point but in our house they are a weekly staple! Bay loves them and they are super fast!

 

2 slices of bread (per sandwich)
butter
cheese slices

I butter up all sides of the bread and cut about 4 slices of cheese to go in between. Then if you have a sandwich maker stick it in that and it will grill it up or just stick it on a griddle on your oven. If we make it for dinner, I usually make a pot of tomato soup to go with it or some sliced apples for lunch :)

Rachel Ray's Mini Spinich Quiche's

Puff pastry
Bacon
4 eggs, 2 whole, 2 yolks
3/4 Half & half, I used milk
Spinach, I used frozen
Cheese, I used mozerella
Dash of nutmeg
Salt & pepper


One sheet of puff pastry makes 6 quiches. If pastry frozen let thaw first, then cut into 6 squares, and put in muffin tin.

Then put in your bacon, spinach and cheese. Beat eggs and milk and seasonings, and pour over top.

Rachel Ray didn't say what temp or how long to cook it and I couldn't find it on her website, so I did mine at 375 and for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are done and pastry is golden brown

This is pretty easy and really good. You could use any variacions, hope you all enjoy.

Chicken Roll-ups

2-3 chicken breasts

1 8oz. package cream cheese

2 packages of refrigerated crescent rolls

Italian bread crumbs

Garlic & onion salt

Melted butter

Pre-heat oven to 350. Have cream cheese soft, put with cooked chicken and mix with electric beater. I prefer to boil the chicken, it's really moist. Season with garlic and onion salt, to taste. Then a rather small spoon full of chicken mixture at the end of the crescent roll, then roll up, make sure sides are creased. Dip into melted butter then cover with bread crumbs. Bake for 15-20 minutes. It's really good with wild rice as a side and to cover with Campbell's chicken soup made with milk.

Pizza Bagels

So, this is the easiest dinner idea ever! I know it's pretty self explanatory, but if your are like me, someone else needs to think of making it into a meal!

I like to use either plain, or whole wheat bagels, they are both good.
1 can tomato sauce-seasoned the way you like. I use garlic salt, oregano, and a little basil.
Spread sauce on bagel and top with cheese, and anything else you like, ie: pepperoni, ham, olives, green peppers, mushrooms, you get the idea!
Place your bagels on a cookie sheet and broil on low for 8-10 mins, until cheese is melted