Tag: comfort food

Recipes and Cooking

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Brandi C

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

 

Homemade Drop Biscuits and Chili Casserole

If you’re looking for a hearty and comforting meal that is sure to satisfy your entire family, this Homemade Drop Biscuits and Chili Cheese Dog Casserole is perfect! It combines fluffy homemade biscuits with a savory chili and hot dog mixture, topped off with melty cheese. Here’s how to make it!

Homemade Drop Biscuits

These drop biscuits are soft, fluffy, and quick to make. You can even customize them with optional ingredients like cheese, garlic, or herbs!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (Note: You can also use self-rising flour, but in that case, omit the salt and baking powder. The biscuits will spread more as well.)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup milk
    Optional ingredients:
  • Cheddar cheese (optional)
  • Onion powder (optional)
  • Garlic powder (optional)
  • Chives (optional)
  • Italian seasoning (optional)
  • Basil (optional)
  • Oregano (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 450°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
  3. Add in the melted butter and milk, stirring until just moistened.
  4. If you want to add optional ingredients, do so now. For example, I added onion powder and garlic powder for extra flavor.
  5. Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto a greased baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Be careful not to burn the bottoms!

Chili

This hearty chili is made with ground beef, flavorful seasonings, and a combination of hot dogs and beans to give it that perfect texture and taste.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • Seasoning (your choice; chili seasoning mix works great!)
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 packets chili mix (or your favorite chili seasoning)
  • 2 packs hot dogs, boiled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cans tomato sauce
  • 1 can green chilies
  • 2 cans chili hot beans
  • 1 can drained and rinsed kidney beans (optional – I’ll leave these out next time)

Directions

  1. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
  2. Stir in the chili seasoning mix and the two packets of chili mix. Mix well.
  3. Add in the hot dog pieces, tomato sauce, green chilies, chili hot beans, and kidney beans (if using). Stir everything together.

Assembly

Now, let’s build this hearty casserole!

Ingredients for Assembly

  • Greased 13×9 inch baking pan
  • Greased 11×8 inch baking dish (optional for extra servings)
  • Grated cheese (your choice – cheddar works well)

Directions

  1. Start by tearing the homemade biscuits into pieces and layering them on the bottom of the greased 13×9 pan.
  2. Spread the chili and hot dog mixture evenly over the biscuits.
  3. Add a layer of grated cheese.
  4. Tear up another layer of biscuits and place on top of the cheese layer.
  5. Add another layer of the chili and hot dog mixture, followed by the final layer of cheese.
  6. Repeat the process for the optional 11×8 dish if you want to make a second pan.
  7. Bake both pans for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and everything is heated through.

Different Variations

This dish is versatile, so feel free to make it your own! Here are a few ideas for variation:

  • Leave out the kidney beans and try pinto beans instead for a different flavor.
  • Try using refried beans for a smoother texture.
  • Swap the biscuit layer for a layer of rice for a different twist.
  • Add in some Rotel tomatoes and chilies for a spicy kick.
  • A dash of cumin could bring an extra depth of flavor to the chili.

The possibilities are endless, so don’t hesitate to experiment and make this recipe your own!

This Homemade Drop Biscuits and Chili Casserole is the ultimate comfort food! It’s easy to make, customizable, and perfect for a crowd. Give it a try and watch it become a family favorite!

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Sheet Pan Nachos

Brandi C

Sheet Pan Nachos

Sheet Pan Nachos: A Fun and Customizable Recipe

Looking for an easy and fun family meal? Sheet Pan Nachos are a perfect choice! This dish is super versatile and can be modified to suit your taste. Whether you want to make it vegan, vegetarian, or load it with your favorite toppings, it’s a meal the whole family will love. Plus, the leftovers are just as delicious! Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients:

  • Flour tortillas (or corn tortillas for a gluten-free option)

  • Oil (for frying)

  • Ground beef (or your favorite protein substitute for a vegetarian/vegan version)

  • Garlic (minced)

  • Onion (chopped)

  • 2 packets taco seasoning mix

  • Salsa (for extra flavor)

  • Mexican blend cheese (or your favorite cheese blend)

  • Black beans (rinsed and drained)

  • Taco/nacho toppings of your choice (e.g., sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Ground Beef: Brown the ground beef with minced garlic and chopped onion in a large pan. Once browned, drain any excess fat. Add the taco seasoning mix along with a bit of water to loosen up the mixture and allow the flavors to combine. Stir in some salsa to add an extra kick to the beef.

  2. Make the Tortilla Chips: While your beef cooks, take your flour tortillas and cut them into chip-sized pieces. You can also buy pre-made tortilla chips, but homemade ones are super easy. Deep fry the tortilla pieces until crispy (this takes just a few minutes). You can also bake them for a healthier option!

  3. Assemble the Nachos: Spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray, then layer your tortilla chips, seasoned ground beef, black beans, and cheese. Drizzle a bit of salsa over the top (but not on the chips themselves – we’ll explain why below). Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

  4. Top and Serve: Once your nachos are out of the oven, add your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, guacamole, jalapeños, or anything else that makes your taste buds dance!

What I Would Do Differently:

  • Use Corn Tortillas: Next time, I’ll swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas. The flavor is a bit better, and they hold up well without getting soggy.

  • Skip Salsa on the Chips: I realized that adding salsa directly to the chips before baking made them a bit soggy. It’s best to mix the salsa into the beef mixture instead, for more flavor and crunch.

  • Green Onions: I think adding chopped green onions would be a great addition for some freshness.

  • Layered Rice and Refried Beans: I considered layering rice and refried beans in the nachos for extra texture and flavor. If you like heartier nachos, I highly recommend this addition!

Final Thoughts:

These sheet pan nachos were delicious and definitely a hit in our household, though I wasn’t blown away by them. The beauty of this recipe is how easy it is to adjust and make your own, so don’t hesitate to get creative! It’s perfect for a fun family dinner or when you need to feed a crowd.

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Baked Stand Up Tacos

Brandi C

Baked Stand Up Tacos

Baked Stand Up Tacos

Baked Stand-Up Tacos

I came across the idea for Baked Stand-Up Tacos and decided to make it my own by tweaking the ingredients to fit my family’s tastes. The picture may not do it justice (I’m not exactly a photographer!), but trust me, this dish is a family favorite. The beauty of this recipe is how adaptable it is — feel free to add or leave out ingredients as you wish! And don’t forget your favorite taco toppings — salsa, extra cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, green onions, refried beans, rice, and more! The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef

  • Taco seasoning mix (I used 2 packets)

  • Water (just a bit to help thin out the meat after adding taco seasoning)

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • Cheddar cheese queso (use as much as you like)

  • 8 oz. tomato sauce

  • Flour taco shells (enough to fill a 13×9 dish)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. Cook the Beef: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, adding the taco seasoning, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Drain any excess fat.

  3. Add Seasonings and Sauce: To the cooked beef, stir in the taco seasoning, a splash of water, tomato sauce, and part of the cheddar cheese queso. Mix everything together until well combined.

  4. Prepare the Taco Shells: Grease a 13×9 baking dish. Spoon some of the beef mixture into each taco shell, then stand them up in the dish. You should be able to fit about 16 shells in the dish.

  5. Top with More Queso: After all the tacos are filled, spoon a bit more of the queso over the top.

  6. Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the edges of the tacos are crispy and the cheese is melted.

  7. Serve and Enjoy: I served mine with a side of Doritos, but feel free to add any additional taco toppings your family loves.

Notes:

  • The original recipe called for layers of refried beans, rice, meat, and cheese. Since I’m not a fan of refried beans, and my husband doesn’t like rice on his tacos, I skipped those ingredients. However, you can customize the recipe by dividing the tacos into thirds: one-third with beans, one-third with rice, and one-third like I made it originally.

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Simple Sheet Pan Recipe

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Simple Sheet Pan Recipe

Brandi C

Simple Sheet Pan Recipe

Simple Sheet Pan Recipe

This Simple Sheet Pan Recipe is proclaimed as my husband’s “most favorite thing” I make. Let’s all realize that I have made it twice. That’s it. I have made it two times in the history of ever. Honestly, it has been an adjustment from cooking for so many people to just a few that I really have to step outside of my box. This recipe can be switched up, added to, ingredients taken away, change up the protein, and seasonings as well. You can mold this to whatever you would like.

Ingredients

Kielbasa

Onion

Garlic

Herbed Butter

Seasoning

Dan’O’s Cheesoning mix

Baby potatoes

Broccoli

Fresh Mushrooms

Oil

Parmesan

Zucchini would be really good in this but I didn’t have any

Directions

Preheat your oven to 450 and get a big sheet pan out. In a large bowl, add in your baby potatoes, I cut mine in half to make them cook quicker. Once they are all cut up, add a dash of oil, some seasoning mix, and your Dan’O’s. Mix well and throw it on your sheet pan. Place in preheated oven to cook while you work on your protein.

In a skillet, add your herbed butter, garlic, and chopped up kielbasa. Sear that down. In the same bowl that had your potatoes, add in the rest of your washed and chopped up veggies. Add a bit more oil, if needed, and more seasoning and Dan’O’s. Mix well.

When the potatoes are fork tender, pull them out of the oven and throw on the rest of your veggies and your protein. Dash some parmesan on top because I love parmesan and it makes everything taste better. Pop back in the oven for about 10 minutes and  you are done.

There are so many more veggies you can add. You can make this completely vegan or vegetarian, you can add different or more protein to bulk it up. There are just so many things that you can do and it is so simple. Enjoy.

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Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Recipe

Brandi C

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Recipe

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Recipe

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Recipe is something I came up with because I had a bunch of random things in my freezer and pantry. It was quick and easy. I served with with Caesar salad and garlic bread.

Ingredients

Bag of Tyson grilled chicken strips cut up into bite sized pieces.

Bag of frozen (or fresh) ravioli (whatever stuffing you want on the inside. I just had cheese stuffed)

Dan-O’s Cheesoning (if you have not bought this RUN NOW and get (order) some. Good grief)

Seasoning Mix

Shaved Parmesan

2 jars of Alfredo Sauce (homemade is always better)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13×9 dish. Boil your ravioli noodles. Pop your frozen chicken in the microwave and when it is is done, cut that up into bite sized pieces. Place a thin layer of alfredo sauce on the bottom, then do a layer of your cooked ravioli, next add your seasoning, chicken, and shaved parmesan. Continue to repeat layers ending with sauce and cheese (this isn’t rocket science).

Bake, covered for about 30 minutes and then take off the foil and bake for another 15 minutes. Let it rest before serving.

Additions

So, for the next time, I want to sauté up some portobello mushrooms, onions, garlic, and maybe even some broccoli. My husband is not a fan of broccoli and chicken dishes but I think it is great, so he may have to suffer.

 

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Leftover Pork Tenderloin Magic

Brandi C

Leftover Pork Tenderloin Magic

Leftover Pork Tenderloin Magic

 

Leftover Pork Tenderloin Magic was an easy and quick thing that I threw together. I was cleaning out my freezer and I found a bag of mystery meat. We had no clue what it was, so I threw it in a bowl and left it in the fridge to thaw until the next day.

When I got home from work, I pulled it out and realized it was pork tenderloin that I had cooked in the crockpot. There wasn’t a whole lot of meat there, so I wasn’t sure what I could pair with it. When I got to sniffing around my fridge, I had a partial package of tortillas, cheese (obviously), and some romaine that needed to be used up.

In my saucepan, I added my meat. I did take some scissors and cut it up into smaller bits. Then, I added 3 T brown sugar, some chili powder, some cumin, and a dash or two of lemon juice. I popped a lid on it and set it to low.

In my large skillet, I warmed up the tortillas. Once that was done, I was able to assemble my tacos. The olives, in my fridge, were speaking to me so I had to toss those. I did dice up an onion, got out my cheddar, and washed up my lettuce. This was served up with some tortilla chips. Had I thought about it, I would have put out the salsa I had in the fridge. Oh well, I like chips and salsa any night of the week.

We were all impressed with my culinary talents!

 

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Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe

Brandi C

Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe

Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe

Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe was so easy to make and a simple crowd pleaser. This is a recipe that I have been making for years. It really hits the spot in the fall but one of my son-in-laws absolutely loves apple anything, so I try to make something for him when he comes for dinner. This is simple with easy ingredients. Typically, I make this in a dutch oven, but I don’t have one of those anymore so I used a 13×9 dish and it worked out just fine.

Ingredients

2 cans of apple pie filling

Cinnamon and sugar

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Brown Sugar

Caramel Sauce

Directions

In a greased 13×9 dish, put in your 2 cans of apple pie filling.  On top of that, sprinkle a layer of brown sugar and then the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Next, squeeze on a layer of caramel sauce. After that, pour on the yellow cake mix (just the mix, do not make the batter). Lastly, cut your stick of butter into pats and place it all over the cake.

Bake, covered, at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then, I took the aluminum off and baked it for an addition 5 minutes.

Serve hot and for weirdos out there, you can add ice cream (enter gagging sounds because that concept is NOT my jam).

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Ravioli Lasagna with Leftover Tomato Bisque

Brandi C

Ravioli Lasagna with Leftover Tomato Bisque

Ravioli Lasagna with Leftover Tomato Bisque

Ravioli Lasagna with Leftover Tomato Bisque is something that I made this past week that was super easy and utilized leftovers. I am not one to waste food. Typically, my family doesn’t mind eating leftovers, so I’m pretty lucky in that department. We are doing some shelf-cooking and so I used (mainly) what I had on hand. I did have to go out and buy some fresh cheese filled ravioli. This is what I made but I am going to add in here what I will do the next time because it sounds good.

What I Actually Cooked

First, I utilized the bacon and fire roasted tomato bisque that I had leftover from a couple of nights ago. I could have just eaten it up, as soup again, but I wanted something a bit different. In my 13×9 greased dish, I put a layer of the fresh cheese filled ravioli, then the sauce, mozzarella, and repeated those layers. I cooked that, covered, at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then, I took the cover off and baked for another 10 minutes. I let it set for about 5 minutes before serving. It was delicious.

What I Will Do Next Time

This is where I get excited! Taking something I threw together to see if it would work and then expounding on it to make it even better. That way, I have 3 recipes in my arsenal of goodness. I have the tomato bisque, the easy ravioli bake, and then the adult version of that ravioli bake. Makes my heart happy.

I would like brown up some ground beef with garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, and my seasoning. Drain that off. In that same skillet, I would cook up some fresh portobello mushrooms, chopped up spinach, and some peppers (red, orange, and yellow). Add the meat back to that skillet and incorporate all of that together and then add your leftover soup to heat it all through.

In that greased 13×9 dish (oven set to 350 to preheat), layer a bit of the sauce on the bottom, then your ravioli (get 2 bags), then more of the sauce. Next add some mozzarella, fresh parmesan to the top and repeat the layers ending with the cheese. Cover and bake for the same time frame as before.

Does that not sound sublime??!!

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My Mama’s Goulash

Brandi C

My Mama's Goulash

My Mama’s Goulash

My Mama’s Goulash recipe is one that evokes such sweet memories in my whole body. When I looked up how to make goulash, this weird thing popped up. It had noodles and a red sauce. In my mind I was thinking that that is not goulash, that is a pasta dish. I made it, super excited because I thought my memories might have been off and this would be similar to hers.

News flash.

It wasn’t. I mean it was good but it wasn’t what I remembered it to be. What I remembered was ground beef and thinly sliced potatoes. After that, I had no idea. I just remember I loved it and it fed all of us. We weren’t rolling in the money growing up, so my Oak could stretch any and everything to make sure her family was fed.

Calling the Calvary

After much looking, searching, and several attempts later, I finally called my Oak. I told her I had been craving goulash and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember the magic that she concocted. There was a distinct silence followed by laughter. She gently explained that it was ground beef, thin sliced potatoes, and brown gravy. That was it. There was nothing more and nothing less. Again, silence. I tried to explain there was something there that was just magical. Maybe it was cooking with love that made it taste so good. I made it like she told me, my family ate it all up with no leftovers. Of course, it didn’t taste exactly like hers but it was pretty close. I have “adultified” this meal and it is just as good.

Without further ado…

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

1 onion

Potatoes, peeled and washed

Fresh mushrooms

Minced Garlic

Seasoning

2 packets gluten free brown gravy mix

1 c. water

Bacon grease (if you have it) or a dash of oil

3 T butter

Spinach, chopped**

Green, red, or yellow peppers, chopped **

Zucchini, chopped**

Directions

Cook your ground beef, seasoning, onion, mushrooms (and other veggies), and minced garlic. Drain and put in a bowl. I use an electric skillet, so I reuse this. In that same skillet, throw in your bacon grease (or oil) and butter. Thinly slice your potatoes and place them, in one layer, in the skillet (I had to do 2 batches). Cook until soft. Remove onto a paper towel lined plate.

Put the ground beef back in the pan and add the gf brown gravy mix and water. Mix well. Add back in potatoes and veggies. Use a spatula to make sure the potatoes are covered in the meat/gravy mixture. The spatula will help your potatoes keep their shape and not break.

Serve while hot.

**These things are optional and what I would like to try at some point.

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Loaded Potato Soup in Crockpot

Brandi C

Loaded Potato Soup in Crockpot

Loaded Potato Soup in Crockpot

When I was cleaning out all areas of my kitchen, I had a few things I needed to use up before they went bad. Here is how I can up with Loaded Potato Soup in Crockpot. It was really easy to make and I was able to clean out a lot of “little bits of things” I needed to use.

8-10 potatoes, peeled, washed, cubed

8 tsp chicken bouillon powder

Seasoning mix

32 oz. water

In crockpot, place all of those items.

Next Up

Take 1 onion and chop it up and put it in a saute pan with some bacon grease and a pat of butter. Cook until it is translucent. Once that is done, mix in the crockpot. Stir well. It would have been good to add in some fresh mushrooms to saute down with the onion and garlic. I am also not opposed to throwing broccoli in there, but be sure and season it.

Cook on high for 2-3 hours and then turn it to low, if you have the time. Once the potatoes are fork tender is when I ladle some out into a big bowl. In that bowl of hot potatoes, I had 1 c. sour cream and 1 can cream of potato soup. I used my immersion blender to blend that up. Pour this mixture back into the soup. Next, add 2 good handfuls of cheddar and 1 c. heavy cream. You will need to put some extra chicken bouillon flavoring in it and a tad bit more seasoning.

Stir, cover, and let sit till all working together for the glory of God.

Almost Done

Get some bacon in the oven and start cooking on that. While that is cooking, chop up some green onions, and get out the cheddar for garnish (and more LOL). Get the cooked bacon out, drain and then crumble it up for a topping. You can top your soup with green onion, more cheddar, bacon, biscuits, or more sour cream. Also, you can serve with crackers.

Enjoy.

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Loaded Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta Recipe

Brandi C

Loaded Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta Recipe

Loaded Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta Recipe

I was cleaning out my fridge and pantry, one day, and had a lot of little thing I had to use up. So, here is my take on Loaded Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta Recipe. It was loved by my 15 mth old grandson to my 50 year old husband. The leftovers were just as good! This is just what I used, so substitute as you want!

Ingredients

2 cans of chicken, drained (can totally boil you up some chicken)

2 T. butter

Bacon grease (I used 2 T)

Seasoning

Chicago seasoning

Bag of bacon bits (or fry up your own)

1 bag of Croutons

Bottle of Caesar dressing

Romaine, cut up

Shaved parmesan

Chopped green onions

Bowtie pasta (cooked to al dente, drained, and refrigerated)

Directions

In small sauce pan, add butter, bacon grease, both cans of chicken, bacon bits, and seasoning. I heated this through to get the canned chicken taste out and add some flavor.

In large bowl, add 1/2 the COLD cooked pasta, 1/2 the chicken and bacon mixture, chopped green onions, 1/2 the romaine, a good handful of shaved parmesan, chicago seasoning, 1/2 the bag of croutons, and 1/2 the jar of caesar dressing. I used tongs to mix this well.

Repeat the layers and serve. Honestly, I was shocked at how good this was when I tried it. Actually, I made my son-in-law and daughter eat it first in case it was awful LOL. She added a bit more chicago seasoning, which is fine by me and can totally be eliminated if you don’t like it.

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Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice

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Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice

Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Here is a Twist on Frito Pie with Spanish Rice. I had some leftover chili from the week prior. It was not enough to fill four bowls, so I stretched it with some extra ingredients and rice. This was a winner for my family. I hope I can remember everything I did. Honestly, I tend to find joy in reinventing leftovers so we aren’t eating the same thing over and over. The downsize is, I don’t remember how I made it.

Frito Pie

Chili (leftover)

Chili cheese fritos

That’s about it LOL. Have I ever written out my exciting chili recipe? I dunno. Should I add it? I dunno. Chili isn’t hard. You can even buy it in a can, which I never knew until recently. Who buys chili in a can when you can make more, with ingredients you are familiar with, and it is cheaper. Mind boggling.

Spanish Rice

I did this in the instant pot.

2 c. rice

1 can crushed tomatoes

GF Taco Seasoning

Seasoning

Cilantro (gross and didn’t use)

Minced garlic

4 c. water

Chicken bouillon

Cheddar

Green Onions (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

Jalapenos (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Directions for Spanish Rice

I put the instant pot on saute and threw in the rice and garlic (with a bit of butter to keep it from sticking). Whirl that around until the rice is sauteed up and then add in the crushed tomatoes and seasoning. Whirl more. Add in chicken bouillon and water. Turn it off and then put on the lid. The knob needs to be on the sealing function and I hit the rice button. Once it is done, I did a quick release.

Assembling the Frito Pie

Grease a 13×9 dish. On the bottom, add the rice and then the leftover chili. I crushed the bag of fritos and poured that over the top. I baked this at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then, I pulled it out and added some cheddar. I popped it back in the oven for another 15 minutes. Serve with the optional toppings above.

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Mystery Meat and Croquettes

Brandi C

Mystery Meat and Croquettes

Mystery Meat and Croquettes

In an effort to get to the bottom of the freezer, we discovered three bags of meat. So, two bags were identifiable and then other not so much. Our Mystery Meat and Croquettes will give us at least three or four meals because of how much it made.

Taking a Gander in my Freezer

As I was trying to get my groove back on this Friday morning, I hurried to check the freezer and pull out the bags of meat that were in question. Now, my husband didn’t know what any of the bags were, so I was going in blind. While my granddaughter was playing, I scurried out to the garage and found the three gallon sized baggies and a 1/2 bag of yeast rolls.

Score.

Once in the house, I pulled out my instant pot. I normally do not use it on the crockpot function because I don’t believe it works so well. However, my crockpot was dirty and my other one has seen better days, so I had no option. Completely frozen, I put in the mystery meat. From the looks of it, it was stew meat but from the smell of it, it was deer. I never cook deer meat. Ever. My son-in-law kills them and cooks it but not me. He does throw things in my freezer from time to time. Once, I opened it and an entire hind quarter was staring at me.

Texting the Man Child

I texted him and he said it could have been him, it could be deer meat, it could be something else. Really, zero help. So, I got a cup of water in their and set the crockpot function on low for about eight hours. He said if it was deer meat, to cook it low and slow to get the gamey taste out and to soften it up.

Whatever.

I mean, that’s what I did because I do not like to waste or throw food away. Whilst his daughter was running about my feet, I gagged a bit while I fit this all in the instant pot. The smell was not my favorite. Once the lid was on, I really didn’t think about it anymore.

Onto the Other Two Bags

One baggie had leftover ham in it. The other baggie, I sort of giggled at when I started looking closer. On the bottom of the bag were two slices of ham. However, the rest of the bag had turkey. I am guessing this was leftover Thanksgiving meat from my mom’s house because I rarely cook turkey. It just is never moist (you are welcome, Susan for using that word).

I let them thaw out while I pondered what on earth I could do to make it work. While I was pondering, I was cleaning my house. Again, it’s Friday and I typically clean the house on Friday. I have been so busy lately that I clean when I have the chance. Today, I cleaned around my girl baby (best helper ever).

Cleaning Out the Fridge and Pantry

I finally tackled the pantry and pulled out all the bits and pieces that I didn’t even know I had. For next week, I will do something with this huge bag of tortilla chips. It was a little bag and about a 1/2 bag but I combined them and now they need to go in something.

Nacho night? Maybe. I dunno yet.

There was a couple of good sized onions and one weenie one. I set it out to use. There was also two little bags of instant garlic mashed potatoes. Gluten free, so I pulled those out. Once I was in the fridge, I found a zucchini that needed to be eaten, a tiny bag of green onions, a bit of cheddar…really, just a little bit of this and a little bit of that in all the places.

Croquettes it is (well, my version of it anyway).

Croquette Recipe

Leftover ham

Leftover turkey

Zucchini

Onion

Green onions

Cheddar

Minced garlic

Butter

3 eggs

Gluten Free Flour

Italian Seasoning

Seasoning Mix

Parsley

Mashed Potatoes (I used Instant Idahoan Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

Directions

First, I got my water started for the garlic mashed potatoes. Once that was boiling, I through in the instant potatoes, mixed, and set aside. Then, I got a huge mixing bowl out and cut up my meat into small pieces. There was a lot of meat (hence using three eggs to bind it). I added the chopped up onion and green onions. Also, I added in the minced garlic and seasoning. I did not heavily use my seasoning mix because the ham was pretty salty and so were the mashed potatoes. From there, I added the cheddar and mashed potatoes.

I had to leave to pick a kid up, so I covered that and it just hung out in the bowl while I was being mom. When I got home, it was cool enough to add in the eggs. If you add those eggs in with the hot mashed potatoes they will scramble up and that is not what you want.

Assembling the Croquettes

Once all of this was done, I got my hands in there (gross) and mixed it well. Like a meatloaf, do not overmix this stuff. I got a plate out and put my gf flour on it. While I was patting away, I was melting a pat of butter in a nonstick pan. I could fit seven croquettes in my skillet. Let them cook for about four minutes (or until golden brown) on each side. I had a lot of meat, so it made about 28. We ate it tonight, will probably eat it tomorrow night with some corn and leftover rolls. I also got a bag and will be freezing some for next week. Cook once, an ample amount, and eat that night and freeze for another night. Key to frugal living and shelf-cooking.

What I Will Add if I Make This Again

Next time, I will cut up some fresh mushrooms, a bigger onion, and some spinach. I could be wild and add in some cream cheese. Honestly, I wanted to add in the rest of the Feta cheese but didn’t want to waste it if these sucked. They didn’t suck, so I might add that next time. Oh, a mushroom sauce or brown sauce would be good over it. The possibilities are endless.

As for the Mystery Meat

My son-in-law checked it and it is definitely deer. He said to keep on cooking it and then decide what to do. I have a person I know that is super sweet and she lives on deer meat. When I saw her today, I asked her what she thought. She said to drain it, season it, and then pour bbq sauce over and make sandwiches. Easy enough. So, currently, that meat is marinating in the bbq sauce and I will reheat it tomorrow for lunch and then for meals on Sunday.

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Making Magic Out of Leftovers

Brandi C

Making Magic Out of Leftovers

Making Magic Out of Leftovers

Since I made the huge mistake of having Ham and Hashbrown Casserole two weeks in a row, tonight we are Making Magic Out of Leftovers. This is such an easy recipe and everyone really does enjoy it but I am not one to repeat meals too often (with the exception of pizza night). So, Zuppa Toscana will be, once again, pushed off until next week. God forbid we have two different soups in a week. Here is how I transformed my casserole into a fantastic soup using bits and pieces from my fridge as well (hence the shelf-cooking tag).

Ham and Hashbrown Casserole

Last night, we had ham and hashbrown casserole. I had fully intended to have it again tonight with the lima beans and some garlic bread (gf bread for one of my people). However, as much as we like this recipe, I was kind of over it. My family would never tell me they were tired of eating it but I know I am therefore I am sure they are as well.

When I did my bulk freezer cooking, I had enough ingredients to make this casserole twice. In making it twice, we ate on it, at least, four times because it made so much. We would have it as a main dish one night and a side dish the next. Wasting food, around my house, is not something I will do if I can help it. We eat it until it is gone or I freeze it. This time, I am repurposing it.

Realistic Shelf-Cooking with Leftovers

I looked in my fridge and I had a half a bag of bacon bits, some heavy cream I needed to use up, the casserole from last night, a few green onions, and some lunch meat ham that was ending its life. One child grabbed my crockpot and I set out to see what I could do. Normally, I would create a roux and add some sour cream, cream of chicken (or mushroom), and play around with the seasonings. This time, however, I didn’t have sour cream and I didn’t want to make my gf cream of chicken.

First, I dumped the leftovers into the crockpot. I then cut up the ham and tossed it in there. From that point, I added some water to loosen it up and the heavy cream. Since I added liquid, I did sprinkle in some chicken bouillon powder (nutritional yeast would have worked as well). I really wanted to saute up some fresh mushrooms, garlic, and onion but I didn’t want to take the time to do it. The mushrooms will be used for pizza night and the rest, I was just to lazy to do it.

I popped on the lid and set it to low. After a bit, I stirred it up and tasted it. It needed no seasoning but I did add some cheddar just because cheese makes everything better. My fear was that my potatoes would turn to mush but since I used cubed hashbrowns, they have kept their form. I’m restraining myself from stirring too often. Once you take the lid off the crockpot, you lose that seal and it takes a while to heat it back up.

I ate a bowl for lunch. For mine, I sprinkled on some green onions. It is fantastic! So now, we will ate it yesterday, today, and likely tomorrow for lunch. I serve one of my kids’ soup with gluten free saltine crackers.

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Chopped Up Angel Wings with a Side of Manna

 

 

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Chopped Up Angel Wings with a Side of Manna

Brandi C

Chopped Up Angel Wings with a Side of Manna

Chopped Up Angel Wings with a Side of Manna
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

This past week, I am working through the last of my freezer meals. I pulled out a few and last nights was “phenomenal” according to my husband and children. Tonight we had ham and hashbrown casserole but the winner was the glazed sweet potatoes. My husband stated that the meal consisted of Chopped Up Angel Wings with a Side of Manna. So, without further ado.

Cheesy Mexican Chicken (Chopped Up Angel Wings)

Chicken

Cream of chicken

Cheddar

1/2 c. milk

Taco Seasoning

3 c. corn chips

Butter

Seasoning Mix

You can use any type of chicken you have on hand (canned, breasts, thighs, etc.) but make sure you cube it into bite sized pieces and cook well. I sauteed mine up in butter. Place in a greased 13×9 dish once it is finished cooking.

In a bowl, mix the soup, 1 1/2 c. cheese, milk, seasoning mix, and taco seasoning. Spoon this over the cooked chicken and top with corn chips and the rest of the cheese. From this point, I did cover mine well and froze it. I thawed it out from that point.

Now, the corn chips that were placed, frozen, and thawed were a soggy mess. I baked it at 375 for about 30 minutes and tasted it. It was not my jam. So, I stirred up those nasty little things into the chicken, added some more cheddar, and crushed up a 1/2 bag of doritos. I got that back in the oven to melt the cheese.

Still wasn’t to my liking, so I added more seasoning mix (I really don’t think I seasoned it when I made it to freeze) and I added more taco seasoning. This time, I stirred all that up (including the doritos on top) and topped it with a bit more cheddar. Baked it for 10 minutes and that is when the angels starting singing. Bart topped his with sour cream, I topped mine with some green onions. We lapped the dish up and there were not leftovers.

Winner winner!

Glazed Sweet Potatoes (Manna)

2 cans (18 ozs. each) sweet potatoes, drained

1/4 c. butter

Syrup, 1/4 c.

1/4 c. brown sugar

Cinnamon, 1/4 tsp.

Place sweet potatoes in a greased 13×9 dish. In a pan, combine the butter, syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon. This needs to be brought to a boil. Pour over sweet potatoes and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

*I did not originally bake mine. Mine was covered tightly, marked, and placed in the freezer. I thawed it out and baked from there.

Recipes and Cooking

Easy Ham and Hashbrown Soup Recipe

Brandi C

Easy Ham and Hashbrown Soup Recipe

Easy Ham and Hashbrown Soup Recipe

Thanksgiving is over and we have some leftover ham. That is how I came up with this Easy Ham and Hashbrown Soup Recipe. There is also a half an onion that needs to be used up, a bit of garlic, a half of a bag of cheese, and some bacon bits. What on earth can I do? That was my thought process yesterday when I made this. I knew I had class for two hours starting at five, so it had to be a crockpot recipe. Also, I have my granddaughter so it was necessary for it to be super quick.

We love potato soup, but frying bacon and cutting potatoes was not on my agenda. I guess it wouldn’t have been on it anyway because I had no bacon and I am out of potatoes. Bart was going to make pizza but then what would the kids eat because there isn’t enough of that to go around. With one child being gluten free, I have to actually think about what I cook now. It can’t just be thrown together. So, here we are with what Bart calls one of the “best soups” he has had in a while.

Ingredients for Ham and Hashbrown Soup

1/2 KY legend ham, chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

1 T. minced garlic

Seasoning

1/2 bag bacon bits

2 T. bacon grease (if you don’t have this, just throw in some butter)

6 cubes of chicken bouillon (if you don’t have this, you can use chicken broth and eliminate the water)

32 oz. water

1/8 c. nutritional yeast (you can omit this if you desire. I use it for nutritional value)

32 oz. shredded hashbrown

1/2 c. sour cream

1 c. heavy cream (I did not have this so I used 2% milk and it worked just fine)

3 T. gluten free flour (you can use any)

Cheese (I used a combo of about 1 1/2 c. colby and about a cup of cheddar)

 

Directions for Easy Soup Recipe

In crockpot, I put in the chopped up ham, onion, seasoning, nutritional yeast, bacon grease, bacon bits, hashbrown, and chicken bouillon powder (or cubes if that is what you have). I mixed this up really well and added 32 oz. water. Pop the lid on and cook on high for about 2 hours. I came back and stirred that around and then put it on low until I was about an hour from eating.

When I was about ready to serve, I took the lid off and added the cheese. While the cheese was melting, I got a measuring cup and put in my milk, sour cream, and flour. I whisked that together to get the lumps out. From there, I poured in the liquid and stirred well. You will start to see it thicken up fairly quickly. I put the lid back on for about 35-40 minutes (low) warm it all back up.

Then it was time to eat!  It really was good. You need to try it to see if you need to adjust the seasoning. Remember, you can add seasoning to a soup but you can’t take it back out. The secret to that is start with a little amount and adjust to taste. I was afraid it was going to be too salty with the ham, bacon grease, nutritional yeast, and seasoning. I thought it could use a bit more but didn’t put it in because it might have just been my tastebuds out of whack.

What I Would Do Differently

Hmmm, I would add some sauteed red, yellow, and orange peppers. I could get away with adding finely shredded zucchini. Fresh mushrooms would have been amazing in this soup as well. There was no cream of type of soup. That is good because it is hard to find gluten free, though it can be made. I just didn’t want to do that because of time constraints. It made a big crockpot full, so we will definitely have it for lunch and the boys will eat it tonight for supper.

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Brunzi Baseball Casserole

Brandi C

Brunzi Baseball Casserole

Brunzi Baseball Casserole

This is a super and quick meal that can be thrown together quite easily. Brunzi Baseball Casserole is a favorite around my household.

1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked and drained

1 large onion, cooked

Seasoning

Cream of chicken, 2 cans

Chicken noodle soup, 2 cans (or you could make your own and use it)

2 c. uncooked rice

Brown meat, onion, and seasoning.  Drain.  Add in soups and rice.  Stir.  Bake, uncovered, in a greased 13×9 pan at 350 for 45 minutes.

Additions:

With this recipe, you can add spinach, kale, cheese, chopped-up peppers, or mushrooms; gracious, the world is your oyster. My kids love this recipe. I have been sprinkling a bit of cheese over the top lately, but it isn’t necessary.

With rice there, I choose not to make potatoes or other noodles as a side dish. My kids are happy with a salad and maybe some green beans. We are pretty simple in the side dish department around here. I guess I need to up that game because I know there are ways I can make veggies more fun.

I could make carrot muffins or bread (sugar, I know). There are a thousand and five ways to make zucchini or squash. Anytime I make that, my kids and husband approve. I like doing simple zucchini spears, drizzle some olive oil, seasoning mix, and parmesan. Then, I roast them in the oven until they are fork-tender.

Servings:  10-12

Calories per serving:  220

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Hashbrown Chicken Casserole

Brandi C

Hashbrown Chicken Casserole

As I searched through my freezer, fridge, and pantry, I came up with this dish. At the end of this post, I’ll share what I plan to do differently next time. This recipe fills a 13×9 dish, ensuring we have leftovers.

Next time, I’ll split the batch—using a smaller glass dish for immediate cooking and an aluminum pan for freezing. By covering it well and storing the extra, I can stock up my freezer. Making a large batch and freezing half allows me to build up meals over time. In my case, I usually do this once a month, giving me enough homemade meals to last an entire month. Cook once, enjoy leftovers, and freeze the rest—you won’t regret it!

Ingredients

Chicken (I had frozen Tyson grilled chicken. You can use canned chicken, cook a whole chicken, or buy a rotisserie chicken or chicken breasts. I sound like the guy off of Forrest Gump describing the different types of shrimp.)

Bacon (bits or fry and crumble)

Seasoning

Garlic butter (I used leftover Papa John’s garlic butter)

Minced garlic

Onion, chopped

Portobello mushrooms, chopped

Two c. sour cream

One can of corn, drained

1/3 c. milk

Bread crumbs

Cheddar

Hashbrowns (I bought the cubed southern hashbrowns that have chopped-up peppers)

Cheesy Ranch Chicken & Hashbrown Bake

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag frozen hashbrowns
  • 1–2 packets dry ranch seasoning mix
  • 4 tbsp garlic butter (or ghee)
  • 1 lb chicken tenders, chopped
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
  • ½ cup Italian bread crumbs (or Panko)
  • Salt, pepper, and any additional seasoning of choice
  • Optional: chopped bell peppers, bacon bits or cooked bacon, chopped spinach

Directions:

  1. Preheat & Prepare – Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 13×9 baking dish and spread the hashbrowns evenly in the dish. Sprinkle with seasoning and one packet of ranch mix, then toss to coat. Dot with garlic butter or ghee.

  2. Prepare the Chicken – In a large bowl, mix the chopped chicken with another packet of ranch seasoning, a handful of shredded cheddar, and any additional seasonings. Stir until well combined.

  3. Assemble the Dish – Spoon the chicken mixture over the hashbrowns. Sprinkle with Italian bread crumbs (or Panko) and the remaining cheddar cheese.

  4. Bake – Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden and bubbly.

  5. Serve – Enjoy with buttered garlic toast or your favorite side!

Next Time Adjustments:

  • Add larger chunks of chopped bell peppers.
  • Use two packets of ranch seasoning for extra flavor.
  • Try frying bacon instead of using bacon bits and cook the chicken in bacon grease for added depth.
  • Consider adding chopped spinach.
  • The jury is still out on corn—it adds a sweet pop, but the texture is different.

 

 

Recipes and Cooking

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Brandi C

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Here’s another easy dinner idea! Chili Cheese Dog Casserole. I love chili, and I love chili cheese dogs—so why not combine them? This dish was a hit with my family, and I served it with chips for a simple, satisfying meal.

Now, let’s talk about life for a second. My downstairs air conditioning isn’t working well, which means it’s hot downstairs. On top of that, my pool still isn’t ready, and depending on others has reminded me that sometimes, we just have to lean on ourselves. So, at one point, our pool was green with frogs, our air was struggling, and my grandbabies and children were definitely riding the struggle bus.

But here’s the good stuff—the upstairs air works, and we had the theater room at the perfect temperature, so we hung out and watched a show. Most of my kids were home for dinner and haircuts. My grandbabies were here, which is a blessing all on its own. And after my husband worked some brain magic, the pool finally started clearing up. Best of all, this recipe came together quickly and in stages, so I didn’t have to turn my kitchen into the depths of hell.

Ingredients:

  • Hotdogs (I used bun-length)
  • Crescent rolls (2 packages)
  • American cheese slices
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Seasoning mix of choice
  • 1 packet chili seasoning mix
  • 2 cans chili beans
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Chips or rice (for serving)

Directions:

  1. Prepare the Hotdogs – Roll out each crescent dough triangle. Place half a slice of American cheese on it, then add a hotdog (I slit mine down the middle so it doesn’t explode). Roll it up and place it in a greased 13×9 baking dish. Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden.

  2. Make the Chili – In a skillet, brown the ground beef with diced onion, minced garlic, and seasoning mix. Once fully cooked, drain the grease and return it to the pan. Stir in the chili beans and chili seasoning mix, making sure everything is well combined.

  3. Assemble & Bake – Spoon the chili mixture around the baked hotdogs in the dish. Sprinkle generously with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted.

  4. Serve – Enjoy with chips or rice!

Final Thoughts:

This dish was a hit! The only mistake I made was leaving it uncovered while keeping it warm, which caused the beans to get a little too dry. Since there’s no extra liquid in this recipe, keeping it covered helps maintain the right texture.

Everyone loved it, and my husband specifically requested that it become part of our rotation—even though we don’t really have one! I need to be more diligent about writing down my recipes because there are meals he loves that I completely forget how to make. Shelf-cooking is just second nature to me, and leftovers don’t last long in our house. But maybe, if I start writing everything down, I’ll finally have an actual meal rotation to keep my husband happy. He loves when I remember how to recreate something he enjoyed!

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Chicken Fajita Casserole

Brandi C

Chicken Fajita Casserole

Chicken Fajita Casserole

Let’s take a break from the heavy topics and talk about food!

This Chicken Fajita Casserole is not only easy but completely customizable. The recipe fills a 13×9 dish, but you can easily cut it in half if you’re cooking for fewer people. I made a few adjustments along the way, and I’ll share exactly what I used—you can tweak it to fit your preferences!

Now, let’s talk about the real challenge—my husband is not a fan of Mexican food. Well, let me clarify—he’s not a fan when I cook it. Meanwhile, everyone else in my house loves it, so I sneak it in when I can. This week, I focused on shelf-cooking, trying to use up what I already had before restocking. With grocery prices skyrocketing, I’m constantly torn between stocking up and making do with what’s on hand.

Since I already had all the ingredients for this dish, it was the perfect choice. Plus, it comes together quickly! I even made some homemade tortilla chips from leftover tortillas. I simply cut them into triangles, tossed them with oil, chili powder, and sea salt, then baked them at 350°F for about 5 minutes. You could also serve this casserole with store-bought tortilla chips or rice.

Ingredients

Seasoning Blend for Chicken & Veggies

  • 2 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp. oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

(Should I admit now that I never measure anything? Ever? I’m spitballing these measurements just for you!)

Chicken Fajita Casserole Ingredients

  • 1 bag frozen chicken fajita strips (thawed & chopped)
  • 1 orange bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 yellow bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 zucchini (sliced)
  • Fresh portobello mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 small onion (sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 stick butter (or oil)
  • 1 block cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • Shredded cheddar cheese

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken & Veggies

I cut my pre-cooked chicken fajita strips into bite-sized pieces and tossed them into a large bowl. Then, I added the sliced bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and garlic.

Next, I sprinkled the seasoning blend over the top, put the lid on the bowl, and shook it up until everything was well coated. I let it marinate in the fridge for about 30 minutes—next time, I’ll let it sit for at least an hour to really soak up the flavors.

Step 2: Sauté Everything

I heated a cast iron skillet over medium heat, melted 1/2 stick of butter, and added my chicken and veggie mixture. I let it cook slowly, stirring occasionally.

To help tenderize the veggies, I added another 1/2 stick of butter and covered the pan with a cookie sheet. Since the chicken was already pre-cooked, I just focused on getting that perfect sautéed texture for the veggies.

Step 3: Assemble & Bake

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Grease a 13×9 baking dish and spread the cooked chicken and veggies evenly across the bottom.
  • In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup sour cream with 1 block of cream cheese. Spread this creamy mixture over the top of the chicken and veggies.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake for 20 minutes until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let it sit for a couple of minutes before serving—this helps the flavors settle and keeps the juices from running everywhere.

Final Thoughts

This casserole was a hit! Even Bart didn’t complain (too much). It’s packed with flavor, easy to make, and great for using up what’s already in your kitchen.

If you try it, let me know how you tweak it to fit your family’s taste! And if you’re into meal prepping, consider making an extra batch to freeze for later—it reheats beautifully.

Enjoy!

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