Better than Mashed Potatoes

Squash Casserole

1 stalk of celery, chopped

1/2 a medium onion, diced

1 carrot, chopped

1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed

~1/4 C Olive oil

1/2 Tbsp. Thyme

2 bay leaves

2 Tbsp minced garlic

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1 egg plus 1 egg white

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated

In a large bowl toss together vegetables, oil and spices together to coat evenly. Roast on a greased cookie sheet (one with a lip helps) in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes until the mixtures is fork tender. Mash these ingredients together with the cream and eggs. Pour into a 9x9 glass dish, top with parmesan cheese. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 more minutes.

This dish is just soooo perfectly wintery. I adore butternut squash and the mixture of a little cream and the sharp cheese brings out it’s sweet flavor. When I was mashing, I left a few of the chunks in for texture and depth and it just feels like someone made a heavenly bisque without all the cream and butter. I served this along side a roast beef, but I immediately stored it in my brain for Thanksgiving next year. It’s a great take along dish, I made everything in the morning up until I had to bake it and then just finished it off in the oven. Highly recommend this dish to anyone who needs something other than the boring mashed potato to take to a potluck, it’s a definite crowd pleaser!

Hap-pea New Year

Black Eyed Pea Stew

2 links of smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch rounds

3 cans of Black Eyed Peas, undrained

1 onion, chopped

2 bay leaves

1 Tbsp Tabasco Hot Sauce

1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes

1 bag of frozen okra

1 green pepper, chopped

2 Tbsp of garlic, minced

4 cans of beef broth

Salt & Pepper to Taste

Add all of these ingredient to a crock pot. Turn on low for 4-5 hours. The longer you wait, the better this is.

I love to serve black eyed peas on New Years, it’s a Southern tradition. That said, it’s a bit boring to place just the peas on their own. This is my cajun spin on fixing that issue. I’ve added and subtracted many ingredients from this year after year to change it up. I”ve taken away the okra and tomatoes and put in mushrooms and leeks in place of the onions. I’ve spooned this over cornbread or rice. If you have leftovers from the night before, think about what may work in here – it’s just about open to anything you have in the fridge, even may help you clean up for 2011 to start!

I enjoy this with a big green salad and crusty bread. It’s an easy day after the big night meal that you can actually make the day before – that way when the hang over hits the next morning, dinner is one less thing you need to hurt your brain about. Enjoy!

Christmas Morning - In A Snap

Breakfast Casserole

2 green peppers, diced
1 onion, diced
1 lb of breakfast sausage
1 dozen eggs
2 cups of cheese

Crumble breakfast sausage in a skillet and fry, add in diced green pepper and onion. Transfer this to a 10x13 Pyrex dish.

Add half of the cheese to sausage mix and stir. Beat all 12 eggs and pour over sausage mix. Bake for 350 for 30 minutes. Add remaining cheese and cook another 10 minutes until melted.

This dish is fantastic for Christmas morning. Can make everything ahead of time minus beating the eggs. Add toast and hash browns and you're set!

You can also dress this up quite a few different ways. I've served over biscuits with gravy (heavy, but kicks a hangover!). I've added mushrooms. I omitted green peppers and put in artichokes and tomatoes. Change up the cheese. It's pretty versatile. Even snuck bacon in place of the sausage. Topped with salsa, with ketchup, even a way to make tacos if you cut it up!

Halloween Chili

1 can Garbanzo beans
1 can corn
1 can ripe olives
1 can pinto beans w/Jalapeno
1 can green chilies
(drain all above)

1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
2 1/2 lb ground turkey (I use 1 lb)
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
1 can stewed tomato
1 tsp oregano

Mix together. Place in large cleaned pumpkin. Bake at 325 F - 3 hrs Stir every hour scraping pumpkin.