Easy Recipes: Crockpot Mac and Cheese

July 25, 2012 by

I’m a fan of Lisa’s Cheddar Spirals for my crockpot mac and cheese needs, but I admit that I’m curious enough about the Easy Recipes: Crockpot Mac and Cheese from Crystal & Co. that I may give it a try. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a Mac and Cheese recipe with eggs before. I’m guessing it makes a custard-like sauce. Will have to check it out.

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Bacon Quesadillas

December 21, 2011 by

Bacon, cheese, and tortillas, that’s all you need for this tasty appetizer from the Kraft website (original here). Bacon Quesadillas are the twentieth of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 4 flour tortillas, 6 inches in diameter
  • 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses
  • ¼ cup OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place tortillas in single layer on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
  3. Top half of each tortilla with ¼ each of the remaining ingredients; fold in half.
  4. Press lightly to secure.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 min. or until edges are lightly browned.
  6. Cut into wedges with a pizza wheel or knife.

Variations

  • Substitute 1 drained can (4 oz.) chopped green chiles for the green onions.
  • Customize the fillings to fit the tastes of your family. For instance, you can add cooked chicken, black olives, green or red pepper, black beans, or salsa.

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Mini Ham & Cheese Calzones

December 14, 2011 by

These calzones from Kraft (original here) take advantage of refrigerated breadstick dough to make a simple and fast snack. Mini Ham and Cheese Calzones are the fourteenth of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 1 can (11 oz.) refrigerated soft breadsticks
  • ½ cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • 12 slices OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Honey Ham, cut in half
  • 2 Tbsp KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400°F.
  2. Unroll dough; separate into 12 breadsticks.
  3. Cut each breadstick crosswise in half; flatten dough to 2-inch width.
  4. Spoon 1 tsp cheese onto center of each ham piece.
  5. Fold ham over cheese to create a tight roll.
  6. Place ham roll near the end of each piece of breadstick dough, leaving a border.
  7. Fold dough over ham, pinching edges to seal. Make sure ham and cheese are completely enclosed to prevent cheese from leaking.
  8. Repeat process for all ham pieces.
  9. Place calzones on baking sheet.
  10. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  11. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Variations

  • You can substitute any deli meat if desired. Salami, turkey, and roast beef would all work well.

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Sausage and Cheese Crescent Squares

December 11, 2011 by

These appetizers from Pillsbury (original here) look wonderful in the picture (from the Pillsbury site). Better yet, they seem to be quite easy to make. It’s another recipe I’m eager to try out. Sausage and Cheese Crescent Squares are the eleventh of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet
  • 1 lb spicy or mild bulk pork sausage
  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
  • 2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375°F.
  2. Unroll 1 can of dough. Place in ungreased 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish; press over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust.
  3. In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently, until no longer pink.
  4. Remove sausage from skillet; discard drippings.
  5. To same skillet, add cream cheese.
  6. Cook over low heat until melted.
  7. Add cooked sausage; stir to coat.
  8. Spoon evenly over crust in baking dish.
  9. Sprinkle with cheese.
  10. Unroll second can of dough on work surface, and press to form 13×9-inch rectangle.
  11. Carefully place dough sheet over cheese.
  12. Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until golden brown.
  13. Cool 15 minutes. Cut into small squares.

Variations

  • Substitute 2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls for the dough sheets. Simply unroll the dough completely and press together at the seams.
  • You could substitute ground beef for the sausage if desired.

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Pizza Pinwheels

December 6, 2011 by

A Pillsbury recipe that Mom has included in her recipe files, this appetizer is simple and can be adapted to include your favorite pizza topping. Pizza Pinwheels are the sixth of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 1 Can (8oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
  • 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped pepperoni (about 1½ oz)
  • 2 Tbsp finely chopped green bell pepper
  • ½ cup shredded Italian cheese blend
  • ½ cup pizza sauce

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
  3. Unroll dough and separate into 4 rectangles; firmly press perforations to seal.
  4. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, pepperoni, bell pepper and Italian cheese blend over each rectangle.
  5. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal.
  6. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 6 slices; place cut side down on cookie sheet.
  7. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
  8. Meanwhile, heat pizza sauce.
  9. Immediately remove pinwheels from cookie sheet.
  10. Serve warm with warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Variations

  • Any finely chopped, fully cooked pizza topping could be used as a substitute for the pepperoni—bacon bits, chopped onion, ham, black olives, mushrooms, and so forth.

Time Required: 35 minutes

Servings: 24

Filed under Appetizer, Italian Tagged with , , ,

Mini Crescent Cheeseburgers

December 5, 2011 by

The taste of cheeseburgers in a simple appetizer, what more could you ask for? From the Taste of Home site (original here), the note with the recipe explains, “A friend first brought these snacks to a Sunday school party. The original recipe called for pork sausage, but I substituted ground beef with taste-tempting results. – Pam Buhr, Mexico, Missouri.” Mini Crescent Burgers are the fifth of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 envelope onion soup mix
  • 3 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375° F.
  2. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
  3. Stir in cheese and soup mix; set aside.
  4. Separate crescent dough into triangles; cut each triangle in half lengthwise, forming two triangles.
  5. Place 1 tablespoon of the beef mixture along the wide end of each triangle.
  6. Roll up; place pointed side down 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  7. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Variations

  • Mini Crescent Burgers can be assembled up to 2 hours in advance. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.
  • Mix in some bacon bits for Mini Crescent Bacon Cheeseburgers.

Time Required: 45 minutes

Servings: 16

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Almond Cheddar Appetizers

December 4, 2011 by

Another of Mom’s recipes, these appetizers are tasty, cheesy, and melty. Mmm. Almond Cheddar Appetizers are the fourth of my 25 Appetizers of Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup onion, minced
  • ¾ c. slivered almonds, chopped
  • 8 bacon strips
  • 1 loaf French bread

Directions

  1. Toast almonds at 350° for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Cut bacon into ¼-inch pieces, fry and drain.
  3. Cut bread into ½-inch slices and cut slices in half.
  4. Combine mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, cheese, onion, almonds and bacon together in small bowl.
  5. Spread on bread halves, and place on a greased baking sheet.
  6. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until bubbly.

Variations

  • To make ahead, assemble and place on cookie sheet. Cover and freeze for 1 hour. Place in Ziploc bags to store for up to two months.

Time Required: 1½ hours

Servings: 48

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Three-Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole

November 18, 2011 by

Everyone here loves cheese, so this recipe from the April 2003 issue of Southern Living (original here) is going to be a sure-fire hit. The note with the recipe says, “The cheese in this mashed potato casserole is really what sets it apart from other casseroles. A blend of cheddar, muenster and cream cheese creates a dish of rich, gooey goodness.”

Ingredients

  • 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Muenster cheese
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  2. Cook potatoes in boiling water to cover 15 minutes or until tender. Drain.
  3. Beat potatoes and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
  4. Stir in milk and remaining ingredients.
  5. Spoon into a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish.
  6. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 15 to 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Variations

  • Frozen mashed potatoes may be substituted for the cooked potatoes. Prepare frozen mashed potatoes according to package directions for 4 servings. Proceed with recipe as directed.
  • If you’re working ahead, casserole can be prepared and refrigerated. After spooning in baking dish, cover and chill 8 hours, if desired; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.

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Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup

November 5, 2011 by

This recipe came with a 5-can package of Member’s Mark chicken breast from Sam’s Club. It’s a simple, fast soup that’s perfect for a chilly evening—and it could easily sit in a crockpot on low a few hours if you prefer.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans drained chicken breast, 13 oz.
  • 1 can enchilada sauce, 15 oz.
  • 1 can evaporated milk, 12 oz.
  • 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed, 15 oz.
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup, 10.5 oz.
  • 1 can cheddar cheese soup, 10.75 oz.
  • ½ cup chopped green pepper
  • ½ cup chopped red pepper

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and heat on medium until the soup is hot, stirring occasionally.
  2. Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheddar, and sliced black olives, if desired.

Variations

  • The original recipe called for pinto beans. Mom isn’t a fan, so we chose black beans. Any bean would really work—pinto, black, kidney, whatever you prefer.
  • The original recipe also used Nacho Cheese Soup, instead of Cheddar Cheese Soup. Our nearest Kroger doesn’t carry Nacho Cheese anymore, so we substituted Cheddar Cheese Soup. Those who wanted a spicier soup just added a dash of hot sauce.

Filed under Main Dish, Mexican, Soups & Stews Tagged with , , ,

Sausage, Spinach, and Provolone Pizza

November 3, 2011 by

From the October 2009 Real Simple (original online), this tasty pizza is a rustic alternative to the normal delivery pizzas we have. Once I saw the photo of the pizza in the magazine, I knew it was a must-have.

IngredientsPizza photo from magazine

  • cornmeal for the pan
  • 1 pound pizza dough, thawed if frozen
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 links Italian sausage, casings removed (about 3/4 pound)
  • 1 small bunch spinach, thick stems removed (about 3 cups)
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1/3 pound thinly sliced provolone

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 425º F.
  2. Sprinkle a rimmed baking sheet with the cornmeal.
  3. Shape the dough into a 14-inch circle, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon of the oil and bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  6. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes.
  7. Add the spinach and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, tossing, for 1 minute.
  8. Top the partially cooked dough with the sausage mixture and cheese.
  9. Bake until the crust is crisp and the cheese has melted, 12 to 15 minutes.

Filed under Italian, Main Dish Tagged with , ,

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