Suppers on the Porch.."Cats Texas Cornbread Casserole"

 Hey y'all...hope everyone is doing well especially with this crazy weather we're having. I know previously I stated that I wouldn't talk about the weather but it's been nuts. I pray every morning for safety for all and strength for those that are dealing with devastation. I just can't imagine. They need everyone's thoughts and prayers. Then tomorrow starts hurricane season. Yes...third season for me and last year I stated..."never again." I'm trying hard to make the right buying decision but this crazy houseing market isn't helping. I'm "stress-eating" ..."stress-sewing" you name it...it's happening! Least with my sewing/quilting I can't gain weight :-) I do enjoy cooking no matter what's going on in my life. Cooking does calm me plus I love putting a twist on my original recipes making them health-r.  My sweet Grandson is keeping me focused but sometimes you do need a "comfort dinner." The recipe I'll be sharing w/y'all today is a favorite in my family. I combined the love of Texas Mexican food but with a twist for a fast dinner for those hectic evenings. Summer is about to begin...the kiddos are home & hungry. You have activities probably everyday with the kiddos so a fast recipe is a must. Believe me...I remember those days. Remember to adjust any recipies to your dietary needs and your families likes or dislikes. Due to my health restraints I tend to suppliment red meat with ground chicken or turkey. Oh before I forget...we have a lot of exciting projects happening over on my quilt blog. So check it out when you have a moment. I'll be featuring home decor projects & great projects to teach the kiddos to sew this summer. In fact...the casserole is resting on my "Party-Point Trivet"...you know me it's all about "fun-ctional decor." Also, if you follow me on "Pinterest" I share inspirational designs/projects from fellow quilter's too. My quilt blog link is on upper right of home page along with my discount link to Missouri Star Quilt Company for sewing/crafting/quilting supplies. As always...I thank y'all so much for following. Hope you enjoy this recipe on the porch or inside :-) 

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Cats Texas Cornbread Casserole...

Here's all you need...

* 1 pkg Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread Mix

* 1/2 cup milk 

* 1 egg

* 1/2 lb. ground chicken or your choice of meat.

* 2 Tb. Taco Seasoning

* 1 (10.oz.) pkg Fresco Cheeze (mexican Crumble Cheese)

* 1 (15 oz). can Bush's Black Beans (rinse/drain)

* 1 (10 oz). can each of Old El Paso Mild  Red & Green Enchilada Sauce.

* 2-3 small red/green peppers

* Pinch of Humor :-)

Here's all you do...

* Preheat oven to 375*

* Prepare large crock...spray bottom/sides with non-stick cooking spray.

* Make cornbread per package directions.

* Fill Crock with cornbread mix and bake for about 10-12 minutes. Ovens vary & crocks cook faster.

Tip... While cornbread is cooking... cook ground chicken in peppers and season with Taco Seasoning. Set aside.

* Carefully remove cornbread from oven & poke tiny holes in cornbread.

* Layer on top of cornbread 1/2 of meat....Beans...1/4 c each of the Enchillada Sauces...then cheese.

* Repeat layers and end with "crumbled cheese on top" as much as you desire :-)

Note...I don't use all of the Enchillada sauce due to using 2 different kids and it prevents casserole from being too juicy. 

* Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes.

* Uncover and bake for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. (ovens vary)

Carefully remove from oven...let cool a bit...juice will set as it rests.

Serve on your "trivet" along with a side salad & enjoy!

Talk soon!

Cat

Suppers on the Porch..."Cats Brownie Cheesecake w/a Srawberry Drizzle!

 Hey y'all...it's finally Friday! I'm hoping y'all have a long weekend to rest...relax.& celebrate Memorial Day! This time of year is pretty exciting. We have graduation ceremonies...Memorial weekend festivities and it's the official kick-off to what am I going to make for these activities :-) So today I'm sharing with you a d'lish recipe that I'm sure will win folks of all ages. I love brownies...what child or adult doesn't. But when you combine the love of "cheesecake" with a brownie you have a match made in heaven. Oh course I had to get some "red" in w/a strawberry drizzle. You can definately just slice strawberry's if desired but with all the food alergies I like to play it safe. Plus a drizzle gives your guest involved. It's really fun to watch how they smile just by adding a drizzle onto a dessert. If y'all have noticed "I'm a bit crock-crazy." I love to bake and serve in the same dish. It's a time-saver plus less dishes to wash. I have 'crocks" from all sizes and will admit they are yard sale finds. I've collected them for many years and they do last forever. Plus it seems foods cook better in a crock. I guess it's like a cast iron pan where the heat is evenly distributed. Who knows...way beyond my smarts :-) I hope you give this recipe a try & make it the "centerpiece" of your holiday entertaining. It does have a few steps but also convenient because you make ahead & refridgerate over night. Less-stress for your holiday entertainig :-)  Don't forget to pop on over to my quilting blog for my series "America...Sew Beautiful" fun-ctional projects for home decor & entertaining. My link to Missouri Star Quilt Company will save you 20% off $50. or more for the month of May for sewing/crafting/quilting supplies. Check their tutorials out for inspiration plus daily deals too! I thank y'all so much for following & have a joyous Memorial weekend!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix

* 2 eggs...2 Tb. water..1/2 c. vegetable oil

* 1 tsp. instant espresso powder (optional but enhances the chocolate flavor)

* 2 8 oz. pkgs. of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)

* 2 cups powdered sugar.

* 1 cup fresh strawberries

* 1 tsp. sugar

* Pinch of humor :-)

Here's all you do...

* Pre-heat oven to 350*

* Butter bottom & sides of crock or spray w/baking spray

* Place on a small baking sheet...set aside 

Tip...placing on a small baking sheet helps remove from oven safely...for me anyway :-)

* Prepare brownie mix per pkg. directions.

* add in 1 tsp.instant espresso powder. 

* Fill crock w/about 3/4 of batter.

* Prepate a small baking dish as above for the rest of the batter. (this is a great topping for kiddos)

* Bake  for about 15-20 minutes (check w/a toothpick) ovens vary.

* Remove and let completely cool.

Tip...once cooled wipe the crock edges clean w/a wet paper towel & run a knife around the edges to loosen brownie from sides before adding the cream cheese filling. Cleaner presentation :-) 

Cream Cheese Filling...

* Blend cream cheese...pwdered sugar until creamy.

* Spoon over cooled brownie.

* Cover & place in refridgerater over night.

Before serving...blend your strawberries w/a tsp.sugar and place in a serving dish.

 Sprinkle chocolate shavings on top or crumble extra brownies :-)

Enjoy!

America...Sew Beautiful "Party-Point-Celebration" Runner 4 Entertaining!

 Hey y'all...hope all is going great. Well it's that fun time of the year where Gradution celevrations are happening and Memorial weekend to kick of the summer festivities. I wanted to share w/y'all a "3-Part-Series" called "America...Sew Beautiful" that I am hosting on my quilt blog. to Celebrate & Honor our Country. The first is the "party-Point-Celebration" runner...pic below. I love the size (11 1/4 x 31) it's great for boating...rv'ng...camping and can be easily enlarged by adding more blocks to accomodate your holiday entertaining. The fabric by Riley Blake Designs is stunning & versatile for Memorial Day...4th of July...Labor Day entertainig. I love a design you can make and use for many festivities. The fabric collection is called "American Beauty" and it's a 10" collection of stunning fabric hues. You can purchase the collection on Missouri Star Quilt Company's webiste and my link on home page will save you 20% off $50. or more for the month of May. I do have a d'lish recipe to share w/y'all real soon for your holiday weekend. Y'all know me too well...of course I'm going to have "recipes" to go along w/the decor :-)  So pop on over to my quilt blog and check out how easy & fun-ctional the table runner is for your holiday entertaining. Thanks so much for following & check back soon!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

"Party-Point-Celebration" Runner...

Suppers on the Porch..."Cats Italian Casserole"

 Hey y'all...hope you're having a great weekend. I know some of y'all are having graduation celebrations so I hope the weather is being kind. If you pop on over to my quilt blog you can read the funny story of how the weather was not so kind when my daughter was graduating with her Masters Degree. Thats Texas. One minute you're thinking yagh a great weather day then...not. But we'll have those memories to laugh about for a long time. As y'all know I've started my series "Suppers on the Porch." It includes home decor for entertaining...recipes to eat while on the porch or inside :-) But I've also started my 3-part series "America...Sew...Beautiful" on my quilt blog. I'll be sharing home decor...fun-ctional decor when entertaining and recipes as well on this page. Yes...they will all compliment each other but also give you a chance to make some easy & fun-ctional decor when entertaining. It started today on quilt blog so pop on over there when you have a chance. My link on home page will take you right to site. Also with summer approaching soon and you might have the kiddos to entertain then you will find some super fun projects to teach the kiddos too. Most of my designs are geared towards the new quilter...teachings kids so sew but with advanced tips a long the way. My designs feature items from Missouri Star Quilt Company and my link (upper right on home page" w/save you 20% off $50. or more for the month of May. I love it when the continue a great discount for sewing/crafting.quilting supplies. Well today I'm sharing one of my fav's with y'all. I love Italian food but I have to watch my "intake" so recently I put a "healthi-r twist" on my casserole dish per my grandson. He likes to keep me in line. :-) They eat healthy so the meat suppliment was inspired by him Of course you can use whatever meat you desire but give this one a try if you too are cutting back a bit. Now the "cheese" is another story. You're on your own for that suppliment. I found out for me that a simple "low fat" cheese works well. Everything in life is full of moderation so do what's best for you and your loved ones. My favorite restaurant is the "O.G."...when they come by with that cheese grader I just feel like I'm in cheese heaven. :-) Well I have a lot more easy & d'lish recipes coming soon so stay tuned. Don't forget to use your trivet :-) As always...I thank you so much for following!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* 1/2 pound ground chicken

* 1/2 pound Italian Turkey Sausage

* 2 cups cooked Barilla Penne Pasta (protein plus)

* 3-4 small sweet peppers...diced

* 1 Jar of Pasta Sauce ( I love the 4 cheese)

* 2 Tb. Panko Italian Bread Crumbs

* 1 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese

* 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

* Pinch of Humor

Here's all you do...

* In a skillet brown meat with diced peppers w/ 1 Tb. olive oil on low-medium heat.

* In a large pot cook pasta until al dente'...drain...set aside.

* Butter a 2.5 liter casserole dish up sides and bottom of dish.

* Add bread crumbs and swirl around until sides are coated. Any extra just spread evenly on bottom of dish.

* Spread 1/4 cup of Pasta Sauce over bread crumbs..

* Layer 1/2 of cook meat

* 1/2 of Pasta

* 1/2 of the cheese

* Repeat the layering and sprinkle top w/ more Panko.

* Place casserole dish on a baking pan for safe in/out of oven.

* Bake covered w/ aluminum foil for about 25 minutes (ovens vary) then carefully remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted :-)

Enjoy!!!

Talk soon,

Cat

 

Great Gift for Mother's Day...Graduation or Just Because!

 Hey y'all...hope your having a great week. I wanted to share a fun & easy pattern with y'all that would make a great gift using one Charm pack. The pattern "Updated Three Totes One Charm Pack" by Missouri Star Quilt Company is great. The instructions are easy to follow and would also make a great Summer Project to teach kiddos to sew. You know me...I'm all about sewing & quilting it forward. I used a charm pack by Island Batik "Pin Dot floral"...accented with uncorked fabric by Windham Fabrics...pieced and quilted with Aurifil 50 weight thread #2588 & 2134. This pattern is sew versatile that I can see it as a "Baby Shower" diaper bag gift for a new mom. She would definately be proud sporting a handmade gift when shopping. I even made a pocket with my scraps to hold keys...cell phone or Chuck :-) I love to make a special gift but truly love a pattern that you can make in a jiffy too. The pattern states 3 totes so don't forget to make one for yourself :-) All supplies can be found on Missouri Star Quilt Company's website & my link w/ save you 20% off $50. or more for the month of May. Can you believe it...where already in May! Well, I have another fun "Scrap-a-long" coming soon along with some d'lish recipes for those "Suppers on the Porch." I thank y'all so much for following & have a great week!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

"Updated Three Totes One Charm Pack Pattern" by Missouri Star Quilt Company...