Cajun Pasta

In this you will make a batch of Cajun seasoning. It will not all go into dish! 

Ingredients:

1 lb deveined shrimp

1 package of smoked sausage/kielbasa sliced

1/2 cup diced green onion

1/2 cup onion

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 lb cooked linguine

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 table spoons minced garlic

Recipe for Creole Seasoning:

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Mix these spices together.

Cook linguine until al dente in a pot.

In a sauté pan put two tablespoons of olive oil and shrimp in with 2 tablespoons of creole seasoning and cook until pink. Take shrimp and set to the side.

Add remaining two tablespoons to pan with onions, peppers, garlic and sausage. Cook thoroughly. 

Now add shrimp back to the pan. 

Add heavy whipping cream and chicken stock plus another tablespoon of creole seasoning. Let everything cook together for about 5 minutes then serve. 

This dish is spicy but delicious :) 

Mexarole (Mexican Casserole)

One of my new favorite recipes! Will be doing a few versions of it. :)

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups of rice (cooked)

1 cup of sour cream

1 cup of cheese

1 cup of frozen corn

1 can of green diced chiles

2 cans of black beans drained

5-6 chicken tenderloins (I recommend precooking them)

DIRECTIONS:

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Simply mix all of the ingredients in a big mixing bowl. Make sure you mis thoroughly. Salt and pepper to taste at this point. Place in a casserole pan and bake for 30 minutes. When you serve put a dollup of sour cream, a spoon of salsa and shredded cheese on top. Enjoy :)

Creamy Fruit Dip

This fruit dip is one very similar to LOTS of fruit dip recipes but I have made it a few times, tweaked some measurements and got to the recipe I find most delicious. My personal opinion :)


Ingredients: 

1 eight ounce package of cream cheese
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup of pineapple juice


Directions:

You will need two separate bowls for this recipe. In one bowl mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and fully mixed. 

In second bowl mix heavy whipping cream and granulated sugar until it turns to a thickened texture like whipped cream. 

Take the cream cheese mixture and mix it into the whipped cream mixture with a spoon. Add the pineapple juice at this time slowly mixing it in. If you decide you want less juice for texture reasons that is completely up to you. Once done it is ready to be served :) The best fruits I feel are apples and grapes. Those two taste especially good with this dip! 

Addendum to my Ham and Potato Casserole...

While it was tasty I do not believe I will make it again. Why? Well it is honestly a confusing dish to me HAHA! I do not think it was suffice enough by itself but on the same token I do not know what I could serve it with. You could maybe turn it into a soup and serve with baguette. In the end, I just don't think I would personally make it again and so I felt I had to share that. Maybe some of you will try the recipe and give me some suggestions on what to do with it :)

Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS: 

1 box of chicken broth

1 bag of frozen chicken tenderloins

1 jar of salsa

2 teaspoons of cumin

2 cans of black beans

DIRECTIONS: 

Put all of the ingredients into crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours. Serve with cheese and sour cream. Yum!!!!

Ham and potato casserole

INGREDIENTS:

Chunks of ham (however much you desire) I did precooked.

8-10 peeled and diced potatoes.

2 cans of cream of celery soup.

2 cups of water

2 tablespoons of flour

1 sixteen ounce bag of cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS: 

Simply combine all ingredients into a crock pot. Stir thoroughly. Set to high and cook for four hours. Enjoy!!!!

Strawberry & Brie Cups

-1 package froze phyllo shells
-Jar of your favorite strawberry jam/preserves
-1 small block of Brie


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place phyllo shells on baking sheet

Place small slice of Brie in each cup

Place small dab of strawberry jam in each cup

Bake for 15 minutes until melted and enjoy!!!

Dirt Cake

Ingredients:

2- 5.4 oz packs of instant vanilla pudding
3- cups of milk
1- 8 oz package of cream cheese
1- teaspoon of vanilla
1- stick of butter
1- cup of powdered sugar
1- tub of whipped topping
1- package of Oreos

Directions:
Crush Oreos until they resemble dirt.
In a mixing bowl cream together butter, cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar.
In a separate bowl mix two packages of pudding with 3 cups of milk. Once mixed for 2 minutes and thickened fold in while tub of whipped topping. Combing the two mixing bowls and fold together.
Layer bottom of dessert dish with some crushed Oreos. Place half of dessert mixture on top then layer with another layer of crushed Oreos. Place remainder of dessert on top of those Oreos and top with more crushed Oreos. Decorate with gummy worms for fun dessert for kids!

Planning to make this DELICIOUS cake!!!!

Here is a recipe I found that I can not WAIT to try!!! Sounds delish!!!! Guess I have my dessert plans for tomorrow! Will post photos once I finish it :)

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                                     Dirt Cake

1/3 cup butter or margarine

1- 8 oz container of Cool Whip

1 package Oreos (yeah, I used reduced fat, a girl can kid herself, right?)

2 packages  Vanilla Pudding

1- 8 oz container Cream Cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

3.5 cups milk

                                                                    Directions

1. Cream together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
2. In a separate bowl whisk pudding, milk, and Cool Whip.  Add in cream cheese mixture.
3. Crush Oreos.  (I like to put mine in a gallon Ziploc bag and let the boys crush them with a rolling pin, just make sure the bag is all the way closed!)
4. Layer cookie and pudding mixture and chill!

Black Bean Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chicken broth
2 eight ounce cans of black beans
1 eight ounce can of diced tomatoes and peppers
1 sixteen ounce bag of frozen corn
1 taco seasoning packet


Directions: Easiest soup ever! Literally add all ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours! Loads of serving options! We did tortilla chips and put cheese on top. Gorditas would also be a great option.

Crock pot chicken and dumplings

This recipe is easy and delicious!

Ingredients:

1 pound of chicken breast
1 stick of butter
2 cans of cream of chicken
1 can of cream of celery
14 ounces chicken broth
5 biscuits uncooked

Directions:
In a crock pot put in chicken, cream of chicken, cream of celery, butter and chicken broth. Cook on high for three hours. Take out the chicken to shred it then put back in crock pot. At this point take biscuits and roll dough into little balls and drop in. Cook for one more hour.

I forgot to take after photos:( It was delicious and all gone!!!!

Stuffed steak rolls

Ingredients:

Thin sliced top round steak (8 slices)
1 red pepper
1 batch of chives
8 small slices of cream cheese (size to your liking)
Small bag of baby spinach
Garlic powder
Black pepper
Kosher salt

Directions:

Take each steak slice and follow these steps. Flatten it out and put a slice of cream cheese in the middle. Top with pinch of chives, red pepper and baby spinach. Roll up from one side to the other. Once all slices are rolled season with garlic powder, kosher salt and black pepper. Bake at 375 until meat is browned.

Savory Grilled Venison

Ingredients:

Backstrap of venison cut into chunks.
1 cup of Moore's marinade
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1/2 a cup of chopped green onion
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of black pepper
3 pinches of kosher salt


Directions:

Take aluminum foil and spread out the chunks that have marinated in the marinade. Slice pieces of the cream cheese and place on top of the venison. Spread chopped chives and all the spices on top. Fold over the sided of the aluminum foil making a container to place on the grill with an opening on top. Grill for 15 minutes or until tender and done.

Sausage and cheese tortellini

This is a crock pot recipe. It is flavorful and easy! Basically a dump and cook recipe which is great for me working 12 hour shifts.

Ingredients:
1 box of chicken broth
1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini
1 pound roll of sausage
1 can if diced tomatoes
1 bag of spinach

Directions:
Brown the sausage and put into crock pot. Then add the pasta, spinach, chicken broth, cream cheese and tomatoes. Any order at all...the order of dumping does not make a difference. Cook for four hours on a low setting.