Breakfast Bake

Hello Everyone! I haven't meant to be gone so long. I haven't been cooking much. Since I have blogged last, a lot has happened. My oldest daughter came to visit. Also, we went to Maine for a visit. My Dad wasn't feeling the best and was admitted to the hospital. We visited him often. I took my Mom to New Hampshire to visit family. My husband has been diagnosed with diabetes. I have been trying to change our eating habits. I will admit that I have made this dish several times. The family love it. My husband told me that he is going to make it. I'm not saying this dish is the best dish to make for a diabetic. I did double the vegetables. I reduced the potatoes. Also, I used the Jiffy baking mix since it had lower carbohydrates than Bisquick. I figure even if I blog a recipe a week until I get back into cooking more than I can share what I have made and liked.

Breakfast Bake
2 packages (12 oz.) breakfast sausage
2 medium bell pepper, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Bisquick baking mix
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp pepper
4 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Spray a baking dish with nonstick baking spray.
3. In a large skillet, cook the sausage, bell peppers, and onions until the sausage is fully cooked. 
4. Stir in the hash browns and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese.
5. Spread the mixture into the baking dish.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the baking mix, milk, black pepper, and eggs until well blended.  
7. Pour the baking mixture into the baking dish.
8. Bake the mixture uncovered for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
9. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
10. Bake for a couple of minutes longer until the cheese is melted.
11. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. 

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

One year ago............................I made Easter Cake.
Two years ago..........................I made Egg Cupcakes. 
Three years ago........................I made Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Four years ago..........................I made Chocolate and PB Ribbon Dessert.

Did you already know.................
-Type 1 Diabetes: the body has lack of insulin production.
-Type 2 Diabetes: the body ineffectively use of insulin properly. 
-90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Sometimes my husband does something that will surprise me. We have been married forever-alright 12 years. I think I know him pretty well but when he asked me to make him stuffed pepper soup, I was surprised. I didn't know this man in front of me. Make what? Something with green peppers? I thought he didn't like green peppers. He must not been feeling good. Maybe he was cloned by aliens and the imposter thought he could pull one over on me? I love green peppers so I had to make this soup. I loved it. My husband had tried it when he was at the poker room. Since the poker room has such a limited selection, he tried it. He was even surprised he liked it. Being such a good husband, he even told me that my soup was even better than the soup he had tried.

Stuffed Pepper Soup
2 cups rice
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 jar (14 oz.) tomato and basil pasta sauce
1 can (14.5 oz.) Italian diced tomatoes sauce
4 cups chicken broth

Directions: 

1. Cook the rice according to the package directions. Set aside.
2. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat.
3. Brown the hamburger with the chopped onions and green peppers. 
4. Cook until the hamburger is cooked through. 
5. Add the pasta sauce, tomato sauce, and the chicken broth. Heat through.
6. Before serving, Scoop half a cup of rice into a bowl.
7. Ladle the soup over the rice and stir. 
8. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home. 

One year ago.............................Sausage Wonton Appetizers.
Three years ago........................Burgundy Mushrooms.

Did you already know..............
-In 1840, Queen Victoria created the tradition of wearing a white bridal gown according to Women's Day. (I wore baby blue since blue is my husband's favorite color.)
-To give a betrothed a ring has been around since Roman times.
-Since 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria was the first recorded history to give a fiancee a diamond ring.

Growing Up!

Recently, my Mom gave me a back rest pillow. The kids thought it was the neatest thing. They were more fascinated with the pillow than some of their toys. They placed it on my bed and had to take turns trying it out. Then finally they let me try out my gift which is always nice. They told me to lean back into it and how comfy it felt. Then my son told me to go to sleep. Why he thought I would want to sleep sitting up was beyond me but I pretended to sleep. Anytime I pretend to sleep I make some snoring noises, don't you? My seven year old son started to laugh and he said, "A woman snoring, that is funny!" He knows I don't snore in my sleep and neither does his sisters so he assumes females don't snore. (Good thing he hasn't been around my sister much when she sleeps because I know she snores!) So, it got me thinking about my childhood assumptions.

Childhood Assumptions:

1. Men are serious and don't smile a lot. (My Dad and my maternal relatives did not smile a lot. They are men.)
2. Men do not eat sweets. (My Dad use to eat a lot of candy as a child and outgrew candy plus my maternal Grandfather was diabetic.)
3. Men like beer and women don't. (My Mom very rarely drinks.)

Do you have any childhood assumptions that have changed since becoming an adult? My husband does smile and loves sweets. I will drink a beer once in awhile especially when I am cooking chili since I don't want it to go to waste. 

My oldest daughter asked me to make some steak fajitas. My sister orders this meal a lot so I knew what was in it but had never looked up the recipe since it seemed like a quick meal. I was surprised by all the recipes I looked at wanted me to marinade the meat for hours. Since I had lack of planning, I just used a better cut of meat so it would be tender. We liked it and my daughter was happy. These are the type of meals we serve when my husband is away since he doesn't eat steak and peppers. I think he is missing out.

Steak Fajitas
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
8 oz Sirloin Steak, cut in strips
1 Tbsp Montreal Steak seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 red pepper, sliced in strips
1/2 green pepper, sliced in strips
1/2 yellow onion, sliced in strips
1/2 fresh lime juice, optional
8 flour tortillas

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
2. Season the steak with the Montreal Steak Seasoning, a little salt, and pepper. 
3. Add the steak and brown for about 3 minutes per a side or cook until the desired doneness.
4. Remove the steak and place on a plate.
5. Add the red pepper, green pepper, and yellow onion to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes.
6. Squeeze the lime juice over the vegetables and cook for about another minute or two. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Remove the vegetables and mix with the steak before serving on tortillas.

One year ago........................I made Cranberry Cream Cheese Bundt Cake. It was so good that I know what I'll be making this week.

Did you already know....
-Some causes of snoring are excess weight, alcohol consumption, congestion, and exhaustion.
-4 out of 10 men snore and 3 out of 10 women snore per Health 24.
-Snoring can be a sign of sleep apena.