Busy Brunette Bakerista

Stove Top Macaroni-n-Cheese-n-Sausage Casserole It’s that time of year for Spring gatherings and brunch events. Here is an easy mac-n-cheese recipe that will "wow" everyone!  Cooking spray ¼ teaspoon black pepper 12 ounces large elbow macaroni 2 – 4 cups shredded extrasharp cheese 1 package chicken-apple-sausage 2 egg whites 1 (12oz.) can evaporated low-fat milk 1/8 cup prepared breadcrumbs 4 Tablespoons butter **roasted cherry tomatoes Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook macaroni in boiling water 7 minutes and then drain.  While pasta is cooking, slice sausage into 1 inch pieces and sauté for a few minutes in a pan until soft.  Set aside.   Place pasta in a large pan over medium-low heat and stir in cheese, sausage, egg whites, and evaporated milk.  Cook for 4 minutes until cheese melts stirring constantly.  Spray 9” x 12” casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into dish....

This is an easy, delicious, make-and-leave-it, slow-cooker recipe that I make all the time. The cornbread crust gives it a wonderful texture too. For a more meaty dish, add cooked, ground turkey or beef. Enjoy! Cornbread-Topped Enchilada Casserole 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 (15oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15oz.) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15 oz.) can of diced tomatoes with mild green chiles, drained 1 (11oz.) can of corn, drained 1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce (your choice) 2 green onions chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 lb. cooked ground turkey or beef (optional) 1 package (8.5 oz.) cornbread mix 2 eggs 1 to 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend Combine seasonings, beans, tomatoes, corn, enchilada sauce, green onions, and cilantro. Stir then cover and cook on low for six hours. In a small bowl, combine corn bread mix, two eggs and sp...

Being part Irish I love mashed potatoes! A true Shepherd's Pie recipe can be very complex with lots of ground beef, vegetables, homemade mashed potatoes, and more. This version is a little healthier with ground turkey, beans, and instant mashed potatoes. So tastey! Skinny Shepherd's Pie Ingredients: 1/2 lb. ground turkey 1 can (15oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1/3 cup water 3/4 cup taco sauce 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cumin 2 teaspoons sugar 2 cups cooked instant, mashed potatoes butter and milk for instant mashed potatoes low-fat cheddar cheese, grated Cook instant mashed potatoes according to directions on the box. Set aside and keep warm with a lid or foil on top. Cook ground turkey in a skillet on medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Spoon meat-bean mixture into a serving bowl, top with mashed potatoes by spreading with a small spatula, and top with cheese. Let sit 2 min...

My own recipe named after my great-great-great grandmother who was married to Daniel "Dan'l" Mansfield* in Tipareary County, Ireland . Everyone needs a basic stew recipe for St. Patrick’s Day and this one is also great for Easter or Fall. You can adjust the amount of beer or ale you put in but make sure to use stew meat and po tatoes. *sometimes we call our son Danil (Dan'l) too! Mary Ellen O’Connell’s Irish Stew 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 pound of beef stew meat salt and pepper to taste 1 (14oz.) can beef broth 1 (12oz.) bottle of Guinness Stout/Pal Ale beer 1 ½ cups cubed peeled, baking potato 1 cup thinly sliced leek (about 1 large) 1 cup sliced carrots (about ½ inch thick) ½ cup chopped yellow onion (optional) 3 thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf ½ teaspoon of kosher salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup water 2 Tablespoons flour 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley Wash and peel baking potatoe...

Here is an easy, quick dinner to  get you out of the post-holiday-cookie-frenzy.  My husband loves a g ood Stromboli and this version is easy. T hink of it as a large, toasted, doughy sandwich roll of yummmm. s tromboli - a type of turnover filled with various cheese, italian metas, and vegetables cooked in Italian bread dough. Meatball Stroganoff   I made mine with salami/havarti and ham/cheddar 2 loaves of refrigerated French loaf dough (I use Pillsbury)* 6 to 8 slices of each ham, salami, or turkey 6 to 8 slices of Havarti, American, or cheddar cheese 8 oz. grated mozzarella cheese mayonnaise yellow mustard salt and pepper to taste dried Italian seasoning ¼ cup melted butter 1 egg Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Open two bread containers*  and roll out onto a cutting board into ½” thickness.  *you can use almost any kind of refrigerated prepared dough (such as Pillsbury)  like pizza crust, frenc...