Breakfast Tator Tot Casserole

I don't have a source for this recipe.  I printed it off sometime in the last month and stashed it in my recipe binder.  I don't always love breakfast casseroles, sometimes they are soggy or weird but this one was really good!  My family thought it tasted like the filling for breakfast burritos and the husband actually ate it wrapped in a tortilla with salsa.

1 lb cooked ground sausage or cubed ham or bacon, just make sure it is cooked (I used sausage)
2-4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups milk
4 eggs
2 lbs frozen tator tots

Spread cooked meat evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan, then spread cheese over the meat.
In a large bowl, mix together the eggs and milk. (I added a little salt and pepper at this point.) Pour over cheese.  May be refrigerated overnight at this point.

Top with frozen tator tots.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 min.

Taco Pizza

This little blog would have a lot more recipes if I could just remember to take a picture!  I decided this one was just too yummy to not post even if I don't have pictures to go with it.
I found the inspiration over at Brandy's Baking, which she found at The Pioneer Woman.   Both of those ladies just used beans but I used hamburger and beans just to make it go over better with the husband.

Pizza dough, I used Melissa's recipe here, use your own or do what Matti does, and get pizza dough all made and rolled out from Papa Murphy's! 
1 lb hamburger browned, drained and rinsed
1 can black or pinto beans, smashed
1 pkg taco seasoning
shredded cheese
lettuce
cilantro
olives
green onions
sour cream
hot sauce (I used valentina)

Preheat oven to 500 degrees,
Mix together hot sauce and sour cream, set aside
Combine your hamburger, beans and taco seasoning.  Cook for 5 or 10 minutes, adding water if needed to make it a spreadable consistency. 
Spread meat mixture on top of the prepared pizza dough and top with shredded cheese.
Bake for 9 minutes or until dough is done and cheese is melted.
Remove pizza from oven and top with shredded cheese, lettuce, cilantro, and whatever other toppings you like on your taco.
Drizzle with sour cream mixture and serve.

Pizza Pocket Sandwiches

I got this idea from my friend while we were out camping and then made them for lunch the next time we went camping.  They are great for camping, a fast dinner or just a fun lunch.  You could set out a variety of toppings and have everyone make their own.

bread
mozzarella cheese (shredded cheese melts better)
spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce or make your own sauce (tomato sauce with pizza seasoning)
pizza toppings of your choice
butter for your bread

Cook like a grilled cheese sandwich or waffle iron or in Panini pan.  Yuummm!

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes with Icing

Every once in a while if we have a slow Sunday morning or a rare Saturday with a little time to spare we will whip up a batch of these fun pancakes.   Matti didn't include her recipe for the maple syrup icing and since I am a little weird about maple syrup and which foods they belong with I stick with this easy vanilla icing.  Some of my kids prefer to forgo the icing and just eat them with maple syrup.

So..I have an obsession with breakfast food. I love it all.
Especially pork products (think ham, bacon and sausage).
I'm also a sucker for breakfast sweets...so pancakes, donuts, danish, cinnamon rolls...etc, are just up my alley.

When I saw this recipe, I almost fell over with excitement.
Pancakes and cinnamon rolls in one?!?!? Be still my heart.
We made them for dinner tonight (yes..the ever classic "breakfast for dinner", i.e. "i'm much to tired to cook anything of great effort...so you're getting THIS").

It was great.
My kids ate it right up...and then seconds.
Of course, how can you pass up a pancakes that tastes like a cinnamon roll...topped with maple syrup icing?
It's super easy too.

Enjoy!

Matti

• 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
• 3 Tablespoons White Sugar
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
• 2 whole Eggs Beaten
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
• ¼ cups Butter, Melted
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla

In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon with a whisk. Whisk well to make sure everything is combined.

In separate large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, corn syurp, butter and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium/low heat. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto griddle. Brown on both sides.
Serve warm with icing over the top.

Vanilla Glaze

You could use any powdered sugar glaze, but I love this one.

Marie

1/3 cup butter or margarine

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2-6b Tlbs hot water

Melt butter over low heat in saucepan; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until smooth and the consistency of syrup.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Marble Cookies-reposted

I love these cookies for a few reasons.  First, because they are just so yummy.  If you follow the links Brenda gives you and use those two particular recipes, you will have soft, perfect cookies that have the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  Second, because it makes a big enough batch that if you need to take cookies to an event (like a team full of hungry wrestlers or a group of scouts) you will still have enough for your family who love these cookies!

While the Smith girls were in California for girls weekend in March, some of us went to this cookie place to get cookies. I fell in love with this cookie that was a peanut butter cookie and a chocolate cookie marbled together. I have tried to recreate it. I really like how they turned out.

Here is the picture I made of the dough. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the finished cookies, so you will have to use your imagination.

Here is what you need:

1 batch of your favorite Peanut Butter cookie recipe. I used the one Matti posted here.

1 batch of your favorite Chocolate Cookie recipe. I used this one that I posted here.

Powdered Sugar, optional

Put the two cookie cookie doughs in a bowl and barely mix together until they are just barely combined. It should looked kind of marbled (see above picture).

Roll dough into balls, roll into powdered Sugar if desired. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 - 15 minutes or just until done.

Black Bean Salad or Salsa-reposted

M y husband likes to eat this like salsa, with tortilla chips, but I like to eat this as a salad.  It makes for a high-fiber, low fat lunch, especially if I use fat free Italian dressing.
You can use different kinds of beans and change quantities of the ingredients to suit your taste.  Most grocery stores have jicama, but if you can't find it, just ask.  Most of the time the stores in my town only have one or two so they can be hard to spot.  You can leave it out but I think it adds a little extra flavor and crunch.  Oh, and it is pronounced "hicima".  Enjoy!
2 (15 oz)can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained or one or two fresh tomatoes
1/2  cup Italian-style salad dressing
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup jicama, peeled and diced
1/2 bunch cilantro to taste
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Let stand a few hours to let flavors blend.

Greek Hummus Wrap

As I was eating Matti's Greek Hummus Dip one day, I was thinking how good it would be to make a wrap or sandwich with it.  Then not to long after that I came across two recipes somewhere that they had done that exact thing!   Like most wraps, you can add/take away the things you like but here was the main idea.

Hummus
Tortilla or wrap (I like the whole wheat tortillas)
Feta cheese
Greek salad dressing
Veggies
     carrots, shredded
     spinach
     sprouts

Spread it on your tortilla, roll and eat!