Thanksgivukkah Addition - 3 special recipes!!!

Happy Thanksgivukkah!!

This is a special Thanksgiving in that as you all know it is also Hanukkah! Last night was the first night of Hanukkah, so I am going to share a special recipe for Jill's Custard Noodle Pudding:

Ingredients:

• 12 oz noodles
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 c water
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbs margarine
• 1 c cornflakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While cooking the noodles according to the package mix together the eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla, sugar and water. 

Once noodles are cooked add them to the mixture and mix until coated. 

Spray dish with cooking spray and pour mixture into dish. Melt margarine and add crushed cornflakes. Mix until cornflakes are coated with margarine. Add to noddle mixture on top. 

 Cook for 1 hour and ENJOY! This is my favorite recipe for noodle pudding and I'm glad to share it with all of you! Thanks Jill for sharing your recipe with us. :)

 This next recipe my mom found in the family circle magazine. We wanted to have a special breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, so I made Bacon Bread Pudding.

Ingredients:

• 6 oz diced bacon (I used bacon bits instead)
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cubed into 1-inch pieces (about 12 cups)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, cook bacon unless you are lazy like me and opt to use bacon bits. Set the bacon aside. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk, Stir in bacon and cheese. 

Stir in bread cubes, coating well with egg mixture. Set aside for 10 minutes, stirring every once in awhile to coat with egg mixture. 

Transfer bread-egg mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Cover with foil. 

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until browned and eggs are set (a knife inserted will come out clean). Allow bread pudding to cool 10 minutes before serving. Feel free to top with syrup if you want. I preferred it without.

The final recipe idea I'd like to share I found on Pinterest. I was asked to bring fruit to Thanksgiving today and wanted to do something fun. I found this idea while searching "Thanksgiving Fruit Platter"

There were many ways to create a "Turkey" Fruit Platter. I used an apple for the Turkey's body and then layered grapes, raspberries, blueberries and pineapple. For the Turkey's face I put raisins on toothpicks for the eyes and cheese for the nose and feet. Use your favorite fruit to layer on a flat platter. I hope this is a hit today!

Stay tuned for 2 dessert recipes over the weekend! I have lots to be thankful for this year!!!!

Week 11 - Enchilada Casserole with Ground Turkey

I wanted to do something different this week and we haven't had turkey meat in awhile. I found a recipe through Pinterest for Enchilada Casserole with Ground Turkey that looked good - http://throughheatherslookingglass.com/enchilada-casserole-with-ground-turkey/

Here is my version of the recipe:

Ingredients
1 small package ground turkey
1 small can of enchilada sauce
1 package of flour tortilla shells
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 Tomatoes
3 small green peppers
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350

Cook turkey in skillet. Once cooked chop tomatoes and peppers and cook in pan with turkey 3-5 peppers (feel free to use any vegetables you prefer).

Heat can of enchilada sauce in saucepan. Spray bottom of casserole dish. Take one tortilla and dip one side in heated sauce in pan, put in center of casserole dish. Take another tortilla and dip in sauce to cover the rest of the dish so that the bottom of the dish is covered with tortillas. Take half of the cooked meat mixture and put on top of tortillas.

Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top of turkey mixture.

Repeat steps of dipping tortillas and layering on top of first layer. Pour the rest of the turkey mixture on top of the tortillas, add cheese on top (similar to making lasanga!).  Take the final shells, dip in sauce and layer on top of mixture again. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce on top of everything and top with cheese. 

Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes. Serve and enjoy!!!

We really enjoyed this meal! It made just enough for 2 of us with a little bit of leftovers. Next time I make it I will use a bigger package of meat.

Stay tuned for a special Thanksgiving Addition - that will be the next post!! Until then....

Week 10 - EASY Chicken Casserole

I'm back in business after a long week in NYC at the NY Marathon. It was an amazing experience and I got to share it with my family too!

This week I used a recipe I had saved from Allrecipes.com for Easy Chicken Casserole - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Chicken-Casserole/Detail.aspx?ms=1&prop25=124259325&prop26=DailyDish&prop27=2013-10-12&prop28=Feature_1&prop29=Title&me=1

Ingredients: (my version of the recipe)

• 5 Boneless chicken breasts
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups peas
• 30 Ritz crackers 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cook chicken until cooked through (no longer pink inside). Chop into bite size pieces and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
   
   
   
   
3. Combine soup, sour cream and vegetables of your choice (I chose peas!).
   
4. Pour mixture over chicken and top with crumbled crackers. I melted some margarine and mixed the crackers into the margarine at the suggestion of the reviews for the recipe.
   
   
   
   
5. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. 
   
6. We topped the chicken mixture with Parmesan cheese and it was delicious!
   
   
   
   Stay tuned for next week with more yummy recipes!

Week 8 and 9 Recipes - Cheesy, Bacon Potatoes AND Pasta Vodka!

I had to combine this week and next week's blog because I will be unavailable to blog next Sunday since I will be working the New York Marathon! 

Ellie had a great day on Sunday Funday - she's our little movie star!

I have two GREAT recipes to share today - The first recipe is for Cheese and Bacon Potato Rounds - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cheese-and-bacon-potato-rounds/

Ingredients:

• 4 baking potatoes cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 8 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).  Brush both side of potato slices with butter; place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides, turning once.

When potatoes are ready, top with bacon, cheese, and green onion; continue baking until the cheese has melted

I've always wanted to make Pasta with Vodka sauce and finally decided to do it with this easy recipe I found - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Penne-and-Vodka-Sauce/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=penne%20and%20vodka%20sauce&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package of pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add vodka and stir until it is reduced by half, about 4 to 5 minutes. 
   
3. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
   
4. Stir in pasta, and heat through. Serve with Parmesan cheese.
   
   
   
   Both dishes were a great hit with the family tonight especially the Pasta and Vodka! I will definitely make both of these dishes again. 
   
   
   I'll be back blogging in 2 weeks! Stay tuned for Stuffed Pizza Bites, Chicken Quesadilla Pie, Crockpot Cheesy Chicken, Upside-Down Chicken Pot Pie, Crockpot Creamy Spaghetti and MORE!

Week 7 - EASY Baked Ravioli

This is definitely one of my new favorite recipes! Not only is it easy, but DELICIOUS too!!

I actually made the recipe harder than it was supposed to be. I cooked the ravioli first instead of using them frozen. It really only added a few extra minutes to the process though so either way I would consider easy to do.

Link to recipe - http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/baked-ravioli/

Ingredients: 

• 1 bag (25 Oz. Bag) Frozen Ravioli
• 1 jar (26 Oz. Jar) Marinara Sauce
• 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• Parmesan Cheese, For Sprinkling

Preparation Instructions

Heat oven to 400°F. Spray bottom and sides of a 9×13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.

Spread 3/4 cup of the pasta sauce in baking dish. Arrange half of the frozen/unfrozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce; top with half of the remaining pasta sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot in the center. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. (Definitely do this because it makes it easier to serve) ** I baked for half the time noted here since ravioli was already cooked through. 

ENJOY!! We did!! :)

Week 5 and 6 Crockpot Mac & Cheese AND Taco Casserole

Since life has been pretty busy I combined 2 recipes into this week since I missed last week's blog

Crockpot Mac&Cheese - http://www.cupcakediariesblog.com/2013/08/crock-pot-mac-and-cheese-as-seen-on-mom.html

Ingredients:

• 1 box pasta 
• 2 cup milk 
• 1 Can (14 oz) evaporated milk 
• 1/4 cup butter ( melted and cooled to room temperature ) 
• 3 eggs 
• 3 cups cheddar cheese 
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs, plain 

Cook pasta for 5 minutes

Combine both milk, eggs and butter and whisk until smooth. 

Place mixture into the crockpot and add cheddar cheese and pasta. 

Sprinkle parmesan cheese. Cook on low 2.5 hours.

Enjoy!

Taco Casserole - http://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/14292036/taco-casserole/

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 cups broken tortilla chips
• 4 medium peppers chopped
• 3 tomates chopped
• 1 cup cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.

Stir in 1 cup salsa. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. In ungreased 2-quart casserole, place broken tortilla chips. 

Top with beef mixture. Sprinkle with peppers, tomato and cheese.

Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. 

I hope you enjoy our 2 recipes - we enjoyed eating both of these dishes very much!! Until next time....

Week 4 - Cupcake Pizza PLUS Turkey Meat Haystack

Week 4 of football season already and I haven't watched ANY football!! Life is just to busy, but I've found time to make some goodies for Ben's birthday Sunday Funday addition.

Both of these recipes were a hit with Ben and my parents, so enjoy!!!

Cupcake Pizza - http://reallyfrompinterest.blogspot.com/2012/04/cupcake-mold-pizzas.html

What you Need:

• Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Dough (I used 1 can)
• Pizza Sauce (tomato sauce is fine)
• Shredded Cheese
• Your favorite toppings
• Muffin Tin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (as the package directed) and grease the cupcake pan.
I separated the dough into 6 equal parts (I probably could have separated the dough into smaller parts to make more, but this way the cupcakes were big and filling). Push the dough into the molds; try to make the dough cover the sides.

Cover dough with pizza sauce, cheese and topping.

Bake for 15 minutes or until fully cooked through. Let them cool before removing with a knife. Serve and ENJOY!

These were awesome and super easy! Great for entertaining!!!

I stumbled across this other recipe when looking for turkey meat recipes and the picture looked so good - http://asugarhigh.blogspot.com/2010/07/easy-haystack-dinner.html  

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 2 cups rice
• 2 lbs. ground turkey, or beef
• 1 - 10¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup 
• 1 - 10¾ oz. can cream of celery soup
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 2 cups (16 oz) cooked peas/veggie of choice
• Shredded cheese for topping

Cook rice according to package. 

Meanwhile, cook turkey in a large saucepan until thoroughly browned. Add both cans of soup and milk; stir until well combined and creamy. Cook until warm.

To serve Haystacks put some rice on a serving dish, top with meat mixture, then top with peas/veggies of choice and finally top with shredded cheese. If your peas are warmed the cheese should melt over them, if not you can stick the plate in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

This was another yummy and easy dish to make!!!

Stay tuned for Crock Pot Mac and Cheese next week!!!!!!!!!