Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

Talk about decadent and rich!  That’s this ooey, gooey homemade mac and cheese recipe for the crockpot! When I tested it straight out of the crockpot, I could not stop eating it.  Total comfort food!

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
One 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick ) of butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
Two 10-ounce bricks sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
Dash of paprika
Cooking spray (I just buttered the dish)

In a large 4-quart slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray (or buttered), mix the macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, butter, salt, pepper, eggs and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes. (Mine was done in about 2 1/2 hours).  Turn off the slow cooker, stir the mixture and serve hot.

Cook’s Note: If you don’t have a slow cooker, grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan with butter, add the mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes.

recipe courtesy of Food Network

~Did I mention that my daughter has a guitar signed by Trisha Yearwood?  :)  It was a 15th birthday gift from her grandpa.

 

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National Cheese Ball Day!

I love cheese in most shapes, forms, flavors, and dishes!

I love cheese balls!

And today, April 17th, happens to be

NATIONAL CHEESE BALL DAY!

Let’s celebrate!!!

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Here’s one of my favorites…

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Here’s a great cheese spread, served warm it’s so yummy…

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Here’s a tasty cheese ball from The Country Cook…

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While not served in ball form, Crab Rangoon Dip by Grace sounds like a great cheesy dip…

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Feel free to share your favorite cheese ball links in the comments

and have a very 

Happy National Cheese Ball Day!  

Hope you enjoy your Sunday.

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I’m trying a new (to me) weight loss technique.  If you want to read about it, go here.

Creamy Potato Soup with bacon and cheese

This cold frosty night calls for something to warm our weary bones!

Click on the picture for the recipe.

 

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Sharing with

 

 

Mom’s Pimento Cheese

Pimento?  Pimiento?

Not sure exactly, so we’ll go with Pimento for this post.

One thing I’m sure of, as a kid I did NOT like Pimento Cheese!

I really didn’t enjoy Pimento Cheese until I was expecting my first daughter. That’s when I began to crave it.   I couldn’t get enough of it!

And I have to have it with plain Lays potato chips, just like Mom!

This past Sunday it was cool and rainy.  Homemade Chili and Homemade Pimento Cheese sounded like it would hit the spot, so that’s what I made.  I made it using Mom’s simple recipe.  I even used the potato masher just like she did.  It turned out great!  If I could have shared it with her, I would.

Mom’s Homemade Pimento Cheese

2 lbs Velveeta

1 large jar of diced pimentos

1/2 cup Kraft mayonaisse

Salt & Pepper

1 tsp sugar (optional – Mom chose not to)

Cut Velveeta into  chunks.  Place into a large bowl.  Add pimentos, mayo, salt & pepper.  Using a potato masher,  smash the cheese and pimento mixture until well mixed and spreadable.  Spread onto sandwich bread.  Serve with plain potato chips and a pickle spear, or serve with a bowl of homemade chili on a cool evening.  Enjoy!

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I’m Linking to

Menu Plan Monday

We finally have RAIN!

It’s been several weeks since we had rain, so we’re excited now maybe we can have a bonfire soon!  That’s one of our favorite cool weather activities.  There’s nothing like eating roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, while wrapped up in a blanket, and sitting around an open fire.

We like to go by the Ultimate Camp Resource website for great bonfire games and stories.   Check’m out for your next bonfire!

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I’m joining Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie today.  Check out the OJ website today for more great menu plans!

Monday –  Chili (leftover from the huge pot made Sunday)

Tuesday – Salmon Patties , green beans

Wednesday –  Easy Cheesy Burger Skillet

Thursday – Roasted Chicken with veggies, LCSF Pumpkin Pie

Friday – Eating out ( no kids night out )

 

Have a great Monday!

Easy Peasy Beefy Cabbage Casserole

I got the idea for this dish from my lovely sister-in-law, Dorothy, in Kentucky.

She’s such a sweetheart to have supper waiting on us when we drag in late at night!  Love you, Dorothy!

I don’t think it’s as good as hers, but then food always seems tastier when someone else does all the work!  :)

Beefy Cabbage Casserole

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 small head cabbage — cut up

1 large can diced tomatoes

1/4 onion — chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 dash of pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese — shredded

Brown beef in the oil, pour off excess fat. Add cabbage, tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and cook slowly until the cabbage is translucent, about 20 minutes. Transfer mixture to a greased casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese and place in 350º oven until cheese is melted and slightly browned.  Serves 6-8.

 

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I’m joining the party over at

 

Summer 2010

I just thought I’d share some pictures of my summer.  Most of these were taken with my cell phone camera, so please forgive the quality.

Hope you’ve had a great summer!

My daughter is all excited about Fall, so we’ll probably be sharing some photos of an Autumn project she has in mind.

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(Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

My hubby went fishing this morning.

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy

My great-nephew enjoys the pool.

Homemade Pizza on a Low Carb Tortilla

The Pool on a beautiful day!

Purple Hull Peas from my garden

Purple Hull peas on my plate.

This was one of my mom’s favorite summer suppers…purple hull peas, fried summer squash, ripe tomatoes & cornbread.

My daughter’s cat, Angel, goes to the garden with me every day.

Pretty pepper plant.

Fresh green beans.

Fresh tomato on toasted sour dough bread sammie.

A wedding cake by my friend’s daughter…she is self-taught and a mom of 2 young children who bakes out of her home.  I don’t know how she does it!

Another cake by Jada.

(Hopefully someday to be called The Cakery Boutique.)

Chicken Club Ring

Ribs…

Our family made a trip to Lambert’s in Sikeston, Mo.  They are famously called “The Home of the Throwed Rolls”.  When you raise your hand, they’ll throw you a hot yeast roll.  The food is wonderful!

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I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of my summer.

I hope to be back soon with some great low carb recipes and stories that warm the heart.  Come back soon!

Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing (low carb)

This is comfort food!  Try it soon.

Heat some olive oil and butter, OR bacon grease (yeah!) in a skillet

over medium heat. 

Add chopped cauliflower, diced onion, and some julienned radishes

(just happened to throw these in on a whim).

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Heat until the vegetables are tender. 

Remove from heat and spoon into a warmed dish. 

Top with real bacon pieces, shredded cheese,

and homemade ranch dressing.

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Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing

goes well with

steak, tenderloin,  pork chops, or meatloaf!

Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing

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1 pkg cauliflower (frozen, then thawed)

3 radishes

1/4 cup diced onion

bacon grease, olive oil, or butter for sauteeing

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

bacon pieces

homemade ranch dressing

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Heat some olive oil and butter, OR bacon grease in a skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped cauliflower, diced onion, and some julienned radishes.

Heat until the vegetables are tender.  Remove from heat and spoon into a warmed dish. 

Top with real bacon pieces, shredded cheese, and homemade ranch dressing.

 

Vintage Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball

The holidays are just around the corner

and eating delicious goodies that we only make on special occasions has become a tradition.

Cheeseballs, Spinach Dip, Peanut Butter Balls, Spiced Pecans…these are a few of my favorite things.

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The special occasion was a wedding on Saturday night.  My friends Terry and Angie decided to tie the knot.  I wanted to help them celebrate by bringing a treat to the reception.  It was all eaten up.   Pictured below was the little bit I had left at home for a midnight snack or early morning breakfast.

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This started out as my friend Laura’s recipe.  I’ve made some tweaks of my own with favorable results.

 

Pineapple Cheese Ball

cream cheese, 16 oz
crushed pineapple, (small can) drained dry
pecan pieces, 2 C
chopped onion, 1/4 cup
shredded cheddar, 2 oz
seasoned salt, 1 T

Mix all togther.  Refrigerate and roll in chopped pecans.
Serve with crackers.

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Watch for more vintage recipes and hopefully a give-away in the near future!

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Partying over at…

Cheesy Sausage Balls

The high carb version of this recipe has been a family favorite for years now.

Usually we get together the night before Thanksgiving or Christmas to cook for the holiday family dinner.  While we’re putting Mom’s Potato Salad together and making her fabulous Coconut Cream Pie, we stick a pan of Sausage Balls in the oven to snack on.  It’s become a family tradition.

 

Having a little extra sausage on hand, I attempted a low carb version of this easy recipe.

 

They turned out fairly tasty, tho I think I can back off the onion powder next time or leave it out all together.

 

All you need is sausage, grated cheese, and something to bind it all together.  I’ve read where some use eggs and others use crushed pork skins.  I used a bit of Carbquik (similar to Bisquik and can be purchased at Netrition) and some parmesan cheese to make up the dry ingredients. 

 

It worked and they were quite tasty, although they didn’t have the traditional sausage ball taste, because of the added spices, I think.  So in the future, I think I’ll skip the spices and hope for that famous sausage ball flavor.

Other tasty low carb snacks and appetizers:

Deep Fried Cauliflower

Aussie Squash Fries

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Cheesy Sausage Balls

1 lb. sausage
12 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of your choice low carb baking mix, such as Carbquik and parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 º F.  Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.   Mix well with your fingers. The mixture may very crumbly.  Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.  Place the balls on the baking sheet.  Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking or use parchment paper to line your pan.  Remove from oven and serve warm.

Enchiladas for everyone!

These are made using low carb tortillas.  No non-low carbers complained.  This is a very tasty dish and higher carb low carb treat. 

I followed no particular recipe, just tried to use lower carb ingredients. 

Enchiladas

Ground Beef

Enchilada seasoning

Enchilada sauce or crushed tomatoes

diced onion

Low Carb tortillas

Mexican blend cheese, shredded

Brown the ground beef and onion.  Drain; add the enchilada seasonings and sauce (follow package instructions if using a prepackaged seasoning blend).  Simmer beef mixture.  Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of beef into tortillas, roll up, place into 9 x 13 dish, sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake at 375 º until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

For the Enchiladas with a side of Caesar Salad, Lime, Avocado, Rotel Cheese dip and LC baked tortilla chips, see my low carb page here.

Cheesy Potato Pie

This pie is a result of a “clean out the fridge” night.

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Cheesy Potato Pie

3 lb.  potatoes, peeled & sliced
3/4 stick butter
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 c. cream
2 eggs
1/2 sm. onion, chopped
Salt & pepper
1 c. Cheddar cheese (1/4 of a pound), grated
1/2cup mozzerella, grated

2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated

2  tbsp. bread crumbs
2 tbsp. butter, cut in pieces

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Butter a glass pie dish. Put potatoes in water and bring to a boil, until potatoes are tender. Drain. Place in buttered pie dish. Dot with butter.  Top with diced tomatoes.  Mix cream, eggs, salt, and pepper.  Add onions. Spoon mixture over potato slices.  Spread evenly. Cover with cheeses and crumb mixture and dot with butter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

3 Ingredient Cheesy Burger Skillet (low carb)

Three ingredients! 

That’s all it takes to make this delicious low carb dish. 

3 Ingredient Cheesy Burger Skillet
 
1 lb. Ground Beef, cooked and drained
1 can french style green beans, drained
4 oz.  shredded cheese
 
After browning and draining the grease off the ground beef, add the green beans; stir.  Cover and cook on low for 10 minutes or until grean beans appear tender.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese.  Cover for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Season with salt and pepper, then serve.

*I know I’m bad, but this  is really good with Velveeta cheese, too. 

Steak and Onion Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing

I like to use leftovers and I love salads!

What better way to use up the leftover grilled ribeye steak than on a bed of crispy salad greens and top it with homemade salad dressing, shredded cheddar cheese, and bacon pieces?

We had some leftover steaks  that kinda cooked longer than we like’m to, (it wasn’t quite as “done” as it looks in these pics, really) so I decided to make Steak and Onion Salad.

Usually I stir-fry a cheaper cut of steak for this dish.  Sometimes I sauté the onions or sometimes I used fresh green onions or sliced Vidalias.  Sometimes I even throw both on there!  I’m liking onions, okay?

Sorry, there’s no real recipe for this.   I just throw together a salad using my favorite salad ingredients, top it with the grilled steak, dressing, and peppercinis.

Steak and Onion Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing (Lower Carb)

Your favorite salad greens: baby lettuces, radicchio, endive, butter…

I used Fresh Express prepackaged.

Shredded cheddar cheese

real bacon pieces

cucumbers, peeled, sliced, quartered (my DD did this )

sliced radishes

grape tomatoes, quartered

sliced yellow onion or green onions

sliced peppercinis.

steak, grilled or stir-fried and sliced into strips

To serve: Toss tomatoes, cucumbers and salad greens and other salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.  Place portions in individual salad bowls.  Add steak and onions.  Serve dressing alongside.

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Ok, don’t laugh, this is not a fancy-schmancy recipe, I usually just throw together some type of mayo based salad dressing.  I can’t stand the bottled stuff.  Not sure if this is kinda like a homemade Thousand Island, maybe?  Nevertheless, it’s pretty good. 

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Creamy Homemade Dressing

1/2 cup mayo

1 T Heinz LC ketchup

1 tsp mustard

1 T peppercini juice

a dash of spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder

1 pkt Splenda, optional (if you prefer a sweeter dressing)

Mix all together in a small bowl.  If you prefer a thinner dressing, add some water or milk.

For a great low carb dessert, what about Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Pie?

Deep Fried Cauliflower Florets (Low Carb)

As I was deep frying these little golden bites, different ones wandered through the kitchen and asked what it was that I was cooking. My Handyman finally decided that this was our pre-dinner appetizer.  I didn’t tell him they were low carb.  They wouldn’t have come within an inch of his mouth had he known. 

These can be served without or with any tasty dipping sauce you like.  We chose Ranch and Heinz LC Ketchup.

Deep Fried Cauliflower Florets (low carb)

One 10 oz bag frozen cauliflower

1 egg

3 T cream, half and half, or water

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup grated romano cheese

seasoning spices (garlic, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, etc)

hot oil for deep frying

Rinse and thaw the frozen cauliflower.  Drain off the water.  With a fork or whisk, mix the cream, half and half, or even water with the egg.  Set aside.  Add your preferred spices to both cheeses, stir and set aside.

Put about a cup of cauliflower florets into the egg mixture, stir around until the florets are coated with egg.  Next put the florets into the cheese mixture (I put the cheese into a quart size freezer bag) and shake around until the cauliflower florets are well coated with the cheese mixture.

Carefully drop into the hot oil.  Deep fry 6-8 minutes or until golden brown.  Continue until all the cauliflower is cooked. Drain on paper towels and serve with your preferred dipping sauce.

Ok, I’ve had a hard time figuring this out but here goes.  I used the info found on Nutrition Data website.

Carb info:

For the whole recipe… Cauliflower 13 g (7 g fiber), egg is <1, parmesan cheese is about 2 g, romano cheese is about 2 g, and the cream is about 1.  So that comes out to 19 grams of carbs for the entire recipe, not including the sauce.  The oil had no carbs listed.