Breakfast Casserole

Sometimes you need a hardy breakfast. Or breakfast for dinner. :)

This is a very filling breakfast casserole, full of eggs, cheese, hashbrowns, and sausage. It's a whole big breakfast in casserole form. Yesssssss. Super easy to put together, this is a wonderful option for breakfast. It does take a little time to bake, so keep that in mind, but it's still awesome. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
-12 eggs
-1 package (approximately 6 cups) hashbrown potatoes
-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
-1 lb of breakfast sausage
-1 cup heavy cream
-salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium/high heat until cooked through.

Drain and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk (like you would for scrambled eggs).

Whisk in the cream.

Add salt and pepper and stir to incorporate. Set aside.

In a large glass baking dish (13 by 9 or so), pour the sausage,

hashbrowns,

and cheese,

reserving about 1/2 cup of the cheese to sprinkle over the top later. Mix together so ingredients are evenly distributed.

Pour the egg mixture over the hashbrowns, sausage, and cheese. If the eggs aren't evenly distributed, you can mix everything together in the baking dish.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the entire dish. Cook in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30-45 minutes, until the eggs have set up and a knife inserted at the center comes out clean. Serve immediately.

Sausage Skillet Meal

Ok, so sorry for the delay in posts. I have not been feeling too great, so things are taking a little longer than normal. Anywho...

I had some smoked sausage I needed to use up. I was tired of all my "usual" sausage recipes, so I went prowling around for new ideas. I was given this suggestion by an acquaintance, and I took it. I'll try a new recipe that has no nasty ingredients at least once any time. :) Hehe. I pretty much followed the recipe (from Kraft), but I'll post it here anyway (as always, very slight alterations). This is super easy and pretty quick, good for a busy weeknight. Aaaaand...here we go.

Ingredients:
-1/2 lb. smoked sausage, sliced (I used Hillshire Farms Beef Smoked Sausage, and used more than 1/2 lb)
-1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained (I used slightly less)
-1-1/2 cups water
-1 tsp. Italian seasoning
-1 pkg. (12 oz.) VELVEETA Shells & Cheese Dinner
-2 cups broccoli florets

Directions:
Brown the sausage in a large skillet on medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. I used the biggest skillet I had, and it was helpful to have the space.

Stir in the tomatoes, water and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cover the skillet. Simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pasta will not be quite cooked. That's ok.

At this point, add the broccoli; cook it about 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in the cheese sauce until well mixed. Serve hot for best results. :) Hope you like it!

Red Beans and Rice with Sausage

This is another really simple meal, and it's pretty inexpensive. It's easy to throw it together quickly, so it's great for a busy week night. I don't make it really frequently, but I do make it semi-regularly. I think for my husband, it brings back fond memories from childhood. That makes it a little more fun. :)

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice
Smoked Sausage (I use Hillshire Farm)
1 can pinto beans, half drained
Cajun seasoning, to taste (I probably use about 1.5 teaspoons)

Directions:
Brown the sausage in a large skillet, cooking it through. I put them in a single layer in the bottom of the skillet, and then turn them over when it starts to brown. Add the rice and beans (including some of the liquid in the can, but NOT ALL of it), and stir to combine. I think the liquid helps to bind everything together. Add the Cajun seasoning, and mix well. I would start small as far as amount and taste test it and add more if you want. I don't do spicy really well, so I don't use a ton. I would start with a teaspoon and go from there. Make sure it's well incorporated, because you REALLY don't want to get a big clump of Cajun seasoning in one bite, trust me. When everything is heated through and mixed well, serve and enjoy. Told you it was simple. Haha. Hope you enjoy!