Quick Red Beans and Rice

Yummy for a cold night!

Ingredients:
14 oz smoked sausage, thinly sliced
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans Kidney beans
1 can chicken broth
2 tsp Creole seasoning
3 cups uncooked long grain rice

Directions
In Dutch oven, combine sausage, celery, pepper, and onion. Cook over medium high heat until sausage is brown (10 minutes). Add Garlic and cook another minute. Add beans, chicken broth, and Creole seasoning. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer at least 20 minutes.
Cook Rice per package directions. Serve 1 cup bean mixture over 1 cup of rice. Enjoy!

Dinner Mac N Cheese

This was in the November issue of Southern Living and was YUMMY! It is definitely a keeper at my house! The web address to find the recipe on line is included at the bottom!

Ingredients

1 (16-oz.) package uncooked cellentani (corkscrew) pasta
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 (10-oz.) block sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped cooked ham
2 cups coarsely chopped assorted roasted vegetables
1 1/4 cups crushed round buttery crackers
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Prepare cellentani pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth; cook, whisking constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Whisk in 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese and next 3 ingredients until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in ham, vegetables, and hot cooked pasta.
3. Spoon pasta mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Stir together crushed cracker crumbs and 2 Tbsp. melted butter; sprinkle over pasta mixture.
4. Bake at 400° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/dinner-mac-cheese-50400000117073/

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

This is a fun find from the Penzey Spice catalog...Yummy!

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
2 eggs
1/3 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 Tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ground flaxseed (optional)
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking spice
1 1/2 cups flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray 9x5 loaf pan with non stick cooking spray and set aside. In large mixing bowl, combine the banana, eggs, yogurt, peanut butter, and melted butter. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add the sugars and beat well. Add the flax seed (if using), baking soda, cinnamon, and baking spice and mix well. Add flour and beat until blended. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 65-75 minutes. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes before removing. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

*I did not use the flax seed. I also didn't have baking spice, so I increased the cinnamon to 1 1/2 tsp and everything turned out great!

Reindeer Munch

This is one I clipped out of a magazine - I don't remember which one. Everyone at our house seems to like it!

Ingredients:
2 Cups Chex Rice Cereal
2 Cups Thin Pretzel Sticks
1 Cup Honey Roasted Peanuts
1 Cup Dried Cranberries
1 Cup M&Ms
1 Package Vanilla Flavored Candy coating

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, except the candy coating in a large bowl/container. Melt the candy coating according to package directions and pour over cereal mixture. Stir to get everything well coated then pour mixture on foil to harden. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

*This is really very flexible - I usually add more cranberries and m&ms than called for because that's what my gang likes!

Lucious Lumps

This is a cookie recipe from Dave's Mom, Carol. Dave loves these and I love how easy and Yummy they are!

Ingredients:
1 Cup butter
1/2 cup powdered (Confectioner's) Sugar
1/2 cup corn starch
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Cup sifted flour
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Directions:
Cream soft butter well. Add sugar, corn starch, and vanilla then blend well. Add flour until thoroughly blended. Add Chips, nuts, and mix. Drop on an ungreased cookie sheet by the teaspoon. Bake 20 minutes at 300 degrees.

*These need to be small or they crumble when they come off the cookie sheet - it also helps to let them cool a little while on the cookie sheet.

Grandmommy's Meatloaf

This is a recipe from my Grandmother... YUMMY!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (Turkey works too)
1 small chopped onion
2 3ggs
2/3 cup quick oats
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp oregeno
1 tsp salt
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp mustard
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp basil
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Salt

Direction:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray bottom of loaf pan with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, place in the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes.
One thing I like to do is buy the 15 oz can of tomato sauce instead of the baby can. I put half into the meatloaf and then pour the rest on top before baking. This one is a great leftover....

Simple Brownies with Chocolate Frosting

I made these for Thanksgiving and they taste almost like fudge! I can't wait to try the other versions of the recipe!

Brownies!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 (4-oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
Chocolate Frosting

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
2. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour. Spread batter into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.
3. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
4. Prepare Chocolate Frosting. Pour over warm brownies; spread to edges. Sprinkle with pecans. Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Chocolate Frosting!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter $
1/3 cup milk $
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until butter melts. Remove from heat, and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

Here is the original link: http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/bar-cookie-and-brownie-recipes-00417000072474/page5.html