Tex - Mex Macaroni and Cheese with Ground Beef / Slow Cooker Recipe and Vegetarian version!

I just read a post from a fellow blogger who posted a recipe for Macaroni and Cheese.
I responded and said that just when you think you have enough recipes for Macaroni and Cheese another one comes along.
I wanted to post this favorite for Tex - Mex Macaroni and Cheese.
This is an adaption from Recipes.com.


2 pounds of Lean Ground Beef ( vegetarian: I buy a box of Yves Meatless Ground. There are 4 individual packages to a box. 2 packages are equal to a pound.  I use the entire box for this recipe)

1 large onion, chopped
3 C shredded Mexican Blend Cheese ( 12oz.)
1 - 16 oz. jar of Salsa, I use Pace Chunky
1 - 15 oz. jar of Cheese Dip ( I never said it was healthy!)
1 - 4oz. can of Diced Green Chiles, undrained
1 - 2 1/4 oz. can of sliced Black Olives, drained
1/2 C sliced Pickled Jalapenos, or to taste.... ( these are the ones we use for Nachos)

In a Skillet, saute the beef or crumbles and the onion. ( the crumbles will need a bit of vegetable oil since there is no fat) If using beef, drain after browning.

Transfer the beef to a 4 1/2 - 6 quart slow cooker
Add:
Cheese, Salsa, Cheese Dip
Green Chiles
Olives
Jalapenos
Stir

Cover and cook on LOW for  5 - 6 hours.

Cook macaroni according to directions
Drain
Stir into the slow cooker and serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Italian Bake

I've adapted a recipe that I received this morning from I Love Texas Recipes via Tricia L Mayo.
I received permission today to post this.
I am posting the original recipe with vegetarian options included.

3 pounds of Chicken Breasts, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces. ( Vegetarian: 4 bags of Quorn Chik'n Tenders)
6 Italian Sausage Links, ( Vegetarian: 6 Field Roast Italian Sausage Links) cut into bite sized pieces and Sautéed in Vegetable Oil.
1 Large Onion, diced
1 Green Bell Pepper, large dice
1 Red Bell Pepper, large dice
1 pound of Pasta ( Penne, Elbow Macaroni, Shells, Rigatoni, my choice is Rigatoni)
2 Jars of Pasta Sauce or 2 cans of Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce
1 large package of  Shredded Pizza Cheese

Cook Pasta according to package directions, drain.

In a large bowl:
Chicken
Sausage
Onion
Green Pepper
Red Pepper
Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Mix Well

Pour into a 9"X13" pan, sprayed with a vegetable cooking spray or buttered.

Top with Cheese
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes
It should be golden brown and bubbling.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes and Peaches

As I was researching new recipes for Thanksgiving, I found this easy crock pot recipe.

It comes from About.Com Busy Cooks /Linda Larsen.

I make a traditional Sweet Potato Souffle with a Pecan Topping, but this one looks interesting for a change.

2 pounds of Sweet Potatoes, peeled and sliced

1 can of Peach Pie Filling

2 TBS butter, melted

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Spray a 4 quart slow cooker with a vegetable cooking spray

Place potatoes in the bottom of the pot

Add:

peaches

butter

salt 

pepper

Mix Well

Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours until potatoes are fork tender.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Hot Cider Nog / Southern Living

Here's another Egg Nog recipe I found in a Holiday Southern Living Magazine.

2 C half and half
1 C whole milk
1 C apple cider
2 large eggs
1/2 C sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 C Irish Whiskey
1/2 C heavy cream, whipped

Whisk together the first 8 ingredients in a heavy saucepan
Cook over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally until mixture thickens and coats a spoon, about 15 minutes.
Stir in Bourbon

Ladle into mugs and top each serving with whipped cream.

Enjoy!
The Holidays!

Holiday Egg Nog Mousse / Martha Stewart

This Egg Nog Recipe comes from Martha Stewart.


3 TBS Rum (Mt,. Gay)
3 TBS Brandy
1 envelope of unflavored gelatin ( use 1 scant TBS)
3 large eggs, separated
1 C granulated sugar, separated
2 C heavy cream
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp vanilla

Prepare an ice bath and set aside

Combine spirits in a small bowl and sprinkle with gelatin, let soften about 5 minutes

Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and 1/2 C sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water;
whisk until mixture is pale and fluffy, about2 minutes.
Remove from heat, whisk in gelatin mixture.

Set bowl over pan again and continue whisking until the gelatin has dissolves, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the bowl to the ice bath scraping down the sides, and whisk until cooled slightly about 1 -2 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the remaining 1/2C of sugar with the heavy cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla.
Whisk until stiff peaks form.
Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the gelatin mixture, then gently fold the gelatin mixture into remaining whipped cream.
Transfer to another bowl. Clean the stand mixer bowl.
Refrigerate no more than 5 minutes while preparing the egg whites.


In a clean bowl of the stand mixer , whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold into the refrigerated cream mixture.
Chill until firm at least 30 minutes and preferably overnight.

Serve chilled any of the following recommended toppings:

Chopped Toasted Hazelnuts
Crushed Peppermint
Golden Raisins
Cocoa Powder
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Whipped Cream

Enjoy!
The Holidays!

Egg Nog Coffee Punch / Southern Living

This favorite Egg Nog Recipes comes from Southern Living Magazine.
We were editing our vast collection of magazines so I went through them and cut out my favorite recipes.

Egg Nog Coffee Punch:

1 Quart of Coffee Ice Cream
1 Quart of Vanilla Ice Cream
1 Quart of Egg Nog
2 C Hot Brewed Coffee
1/2 C Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua)
1/2 C Irish Whiskey

1 container of Frozen Whipped Topping, thawed
Ground Nutmeg

Scoop all of the Ice Cream in a large Punch Bowl
Add Egg Nog, Coffee, Coffee Liqueur and Irish Whiskey.
Stir until the Ice Cream just begins to melt.
Serve in mugs topped with thawed Whipped Topping and a sprinkle of ground Nutmeg.

Enjoy!
The Holidays!

Egg Nog Pie

I happen to love Egg Nog. I know that it's not for everyone, but we have it available during the entire Christmas Season. As soon as I can purchase Egg Nog Latte's at Starbucks, I do. I've made homemade Egg Nog, I have a recipe for Egg Nog Cookies and If I can find a way to incorporate Egg Nog into a recipe, I will.

Here's a simple and great tasting Egg Nog Pie.
This is from O'Malley Farm Cafe.

1 -( 4 3/4 oz.) package of vanilla pudding and pie filling
2 C of Dairy Egg Nog
1 1/4 C heavy cream
1 TBS Rum ( I only use Mt. Gay Rum from Barbados)
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 - baked 9" Pie Crust
Whipped Cream and additional Nutmeg for service

Cook the Pudding mix as instructed on the package except, use the 2 C of Egg Nog and the 1 1/4 C Heavy Cream.
Stir in the Rum and Nutmeg and pour the filling into the pie crust.
Cover the surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours.
Serve the Pie garnished with whipped cream ( homemade is best if you have extra heavy cream) and sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!