Tag Archives: salt

Sausage with Cajun Alfredo

Sausagewithcajunalfredo

I feel like a genius after having made this dinner. This only came about because I thought I had everything I needed for dinner…until time to make dinner and it turns out I had about half. Half one one recipe and half of another.

My first reaction was panic. I’m not usually the “wing it” cook. But, I knew the two recipes well enough that I thought I could mix it. Of course, when Hubs asked what was for dinner I answered with a  “we’ll see!” Turns out, it was a blessing for our tummies!

So I combined my Sausage Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce (cajun style) with my Cheesy Garlic Chicken Alfredo.

Sausage Cajun Alfredo

You’ll need:

 

 

For the Alfredo:
2 cups milk
4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 a block)
2 Tbs flour
½ tsp salt
3 Tbs butter
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese ( or Cheddar!)20160516_171323.jpg

For the Sausage pasta:
8+ ounces penne pasta (or whatever you prefer, I used small shells)
12 oz smoked sausage or Chicken!
14-oz can petite diced tomatoes with onion, drained well
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 Tablespoons cajun seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

First, I started my pasta cooking and then made the Alfredo just as I do for the regular recipe:

Use a mixer or blender to mix together the milk, flour, salt, and cream cheese until it is smooth. I also added butter to this mix and heated it until it thickens then added the shredded cheese and let it sit.

Then, while those two were going, I sliced up my sausage and sautéed it and then added my tomatoes and onion, garlic and cajun spices, and a little S&P. Mix well

Finally, once my Alfredo was ready I slowly stirred it into my pan of sausage. making sure to coat everything and mix in the cajun spice. Then I added the pasta and mixed again.

This was one of the best outcomes of not having what you need!! This mix may be one of my favorites!

Cheesy Garlic Chicken Alfredo

 

Cheesygarlicchickenalfredo

Cheesy Garlic Chicken Alfredo! After one bite the hubby said, “Oh, wow”. Yes, it’s that good. The pin from Eazy Peazy Mealz was for SHRIMP Alfredo. I decided to make this after I shopped, so chicken it was. But this would be oh so good with shrimp!!

The original post also says this is a 30 minute meal. It took me a little longer than that. I think after some practice and with shrimp (shorter cooking time) it will be closer to the 30 min mark. But ABSOLUTELY try this!!

You’ll need:

2 cups milk
4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 a block)
2 Tbs flour
½ tsp salt
3 Tbs butter
3 Tbs minced garlic (I used just shy of a Tbs of garlic powder)
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese
⅓ cup parmesan cheese (optional)
Pepper to taste
1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp or chicken, cut into small pieces or strips (as I did)

Pasta of choice (I used thin spaghetti)

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What to do:

Use a mixer or blender to mix together the milk, flour, salt, and cream cheese until it is smooth. Then set it aside.

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Next, you’ll melt your butter and garlic in a sauce pan then add your shrimp or chicken to cook. Once it’s cooked, set it aside, removing it from the pan and leave the remaining butter and garlic . Cook up your pasta per the box directions.

Next add the milk mixture to the pan you just used to cook the shrimp or chicken. Stir until it comes to a simmer and then continue to stir until it thickens.20160516_175010.jpg

Remove it from the heat and add the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Cover and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

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Yum! Steamy!

Add your shrimp or chicken and let it stand for about another 5 minutes.

My Alfredo was quite thick and super cheesy at this point so I put it back over a medium-ish heat and stirred in a little milk at a time until it thinned out. I served it over thin spaghetti, my hubby’s favorite, and seasoned with a little pepper.

This was so good. Like, you’d order in a restaurant good. Best off all, my lunch leftovers were great!

Update!

So we decided to switch it up a bit and cook our chicken on the grill. I love that chargrilled taste! I did what I would usually do for this, but I cut the butter and garlic in half, since I wasn’t cooking any meat in it then added the milk mix.

When the Alfredo was ready I cut up the chicken and added it along with some steamed broccoli. It was SO GOOD!!!

My husband turned up the heat a bit by adding crushed red pepper!

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Finally, you will feel like this too…our Little passed out after enjoying her pasta! This is a family favorite!20160602_183824.jpg

Cajun Sausage and Potatoes

Cajun Sausage and Potatoes

Cajun Sausage and Potatoes. Well, that’s my version. The original pin came from Recipes from the Big Blue Binder. Their post was for Oven Roasted Sausage and Potatoes. YUM! Over time mine has evolved a bit as you’ll see below.

This is a hearty meal. You can really kick it up in spice or keep it mellow.

You’ll need:

1 package of smoked sausage (slice into rounds, I like to also half the rounds)

1 large onion, peeled and chopped (I typically use half an onion)

5 large potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes (I usually use 3-4 potatoes and slice then quarter)

Olive oil

Sea salt

Ground black pepper

Sweet paprika*

Dried thyme*

About a cup grated cheddar cheese

          *in lieu of these two ingredients I use a cajun blend20160502_162044.jpg

Get started:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a 13×9 baking dish with aluminum foil. They suggest drizzling oil over the aluminum foil. I like to just spray with cooking spray.

Then you want to chop chop chop. I like to add thing into a bowl in layers. A little oil and onion with some Cajun mix and the S&P.20160502_162143.jpg

Then add in some potatoes and mix adding extra seasoning/oil as needed to coat. Repeat until onion and potatoes are chopped and added to your mixing bowl and everything is coated.

I cut up my sausage and before adding it to the baking dish, I drizzle a little oil over it and add the Cajun, salt, and pepper spices to it. 20160502_163509.jpg20160502_163709.jpg20160502_163758.jpg

Then I spread it out in the baking dish.

Over that, spread the potato and onion mix and give it all a light mix.

You’ll then bake it for about 45 minutes giving it a stir several times while it cooks.

Last sprinkle your cheddar cheese over the top and let it bake a few minutes more until the cheese is melted.

Serve and enjoy!

 

Zucchini fritters!

 

Zucchini Fritters final

Corn. Green beans. Broccoli. Potatoes. I feel like we do the same veggie sides all the time. Mostly because those are the few we like and are easy.

But I recently saw this pin from Just a Taste for 5 ingredient zucchini fritters. I’ve recently developed a liking for zucchini,  although I’m the only one in the family to do so.

After a small eye roll from the hubby I started grating my zucchini while he cooked us up some steaks. Click here for the instructions by Just a Taste,  keep reading for mine.

What you’ll need:
4 cups shredded zucchini
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs slightly beaten
1/3 cup scallions
Vegetable oil
Sour cream (optional)

Grate your zucchini, and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Lightly salt it and add it to a bowl. Just a Taste suggests putting it in a colander and letting it sit for 10 minutes also.

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Then add your flour,  eggs, scallions,  salt and pepper. Mix. Mix. Mix.

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Line a plate with paper towels to set your fritters on. Coat the bottom of a pan with oil and heat over a medium-high heat.
When hot,  scoop your zucchini mixture(about 3 tablespoons each) into the hot oil. Cook for about 3 minutes each side or until golden brown.

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Place on the plate and sprinkle with salt. Continue the steps until you’ve used all the mix.

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To be honest,  I forgot to buy scallions so they aren’t added to mine. Let me say,  I think these would have been excellent with them. While my eye rolling husband loved them anyway,  I thought they needed a bit more (thus the scallions). Maybe a spicy aioli? But not bad for a first attempt. This may not be in full rotation yet,  but it’s definitely something I’m going to work on.

Give it a try and let me know what you think. How would you change it?

Crab Bites

No matter if it’s Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or Saturday, you’re probably watching football. Let’s face it, the game is always more fun when you invite people over to watch it with you. This delicious appetizer will fill you up and have your guests inviting themselves over for the next game. My hubby LOVES these and it has become a staple snack in our house.  This was given to me from a former co-worker. While I didn’t get this from Pinterest, I hope it will make it now! These are too good not to share.

The best part? You can freeze batches ahead of time and just pop them into the oven as needed!

Crab Bites

Ingredients:

6 English Muffins

5oz Old English Cheese

8oz Crab meat, imitation or real, we prefer the real deal!

1 stick of butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

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Directions:

1. Combine cheese spread, butter, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl. I like to soften the cheese spread and butter first so its easier to mix and dish out. Then mix in your crab meat.

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2. Separate your english muffins into halves, then cut each half into 1/4’s. Then set them out on baking sheets.

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3. Scoop out your crab mixture onto each piece if the muffins. About a tablespoon size per piece. You can always go back over with the remainder.

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4. Cover with aluminum foil and freeze for at least 1 hour, or even for up to several weeks. When you’re ready, just pop them in the broiler for about 10 min. Just remember to watch them to make sure they don’t burn. Enjoy!