Apple Stuffed Breakfast Casserole

What You Need:

8 slices white bread, crust removed and cubed
1/2 lb. cream cheese, cubed
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped
6 large eggs
1 C of whole milk
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

How to Make It:

Preset the oven temperature to 375 and lightly grease an 8X8 deep dish casserole.
Scatter half of the bread cubes over the bottom of the casserole dish.
Place the cream cheese cubes evenly over the bread.
Spread the apples evenly over the cheese.
Add the remaining bread cubes spreading them out to the edges of the dish.
Whisk the egg, milk and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Pour the mixture over the top of the entire casserole.
Bake the casserole for 35 minutes, uncovered, or until the eggs are set.

Makes 6 servings

The deep casserole dish will ensure that all the egg mixture is soaked into the bread cubes. You can also allow the casserole to stand for about 5 minutes to ensure the bread is well soaked if you wish. This yummy breakfast casserole can be left in the oven after baking on warm until everyone is up and ready to enjoy it. This casserole isn’t extremely sweet so adding a little syrup or confectioners’ sugar won’t leave you feeling overly indulged at the end of the meal.

Cheesy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Corn Soup

creamysoup

What You Need:

2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen cut broccoli, thawed and drained
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen cauliflower, thawed and drained
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen corn, thawed and drained
3 (14 oz.) cans vegetable broth
2 tsp dried dill
16 oz. American cheese, cubed

How to Make It:

Combine the broccoli, cauliflower and corn in the slow cooker.
Pour the broth over the vegetables and sprinkle in the dill.
Cover the slow cooker and cook the soup on low for 7 hours.
Adjust the heat to high and stir in the cheese.
Recover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the cheese melts.

Makes 6 servings

It’s so easy to throw this great soup together and even easier to walk away and let it simmer. If you’re in a pinch for time cook this soup on high for 3 hours. Leftovers make a great rice casserole. Mix the leftovers with rice and throw in some sweet red peppers. Top with you favorite shredded cheese and cover the top with breadcrumbs. Bake it for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven and you have a great meal the family is sure to love from leftovers.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 7 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: approximately 7 hours 45 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 295; Fat 20g; Saturated Fat 12g; Carbohydrates 15g; Fiber 4g; Protein 17g; Cholesterol 58 mg; Sodium 1,609 mg

Slow Cooked Corn Casserole

corn

cornWhat You Need:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, soft
1/3 C of sugar
1 C of milk
1/2 C of egg substitute
2 T of butter, melted
1 t salt
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1/8 t of pepper
2 1/3 C of frozen corn, thawed
1 (14 3/4 oz.) can cream style corn
1 (8 1/2 oz.) corn muffin mix

How to Make It:

Place cream cheese and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
Gradually add the milk, beating the mixture while adding.
Blend in the egg substitute, butter, salt, nutmeg and pepper and mix well.
Fold in both types of corn.
Stir in the muffin mix and blend well.
Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray on the bottom and sides.
Put the corn mixture in the slow cooker.
Cook covered on high for 4 hours or until the center is set.

Makes 10 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 4 hours
Total Time: approximately 4 hours 10 minutes

Prepare this dish in a slow cooker and give yourself extra room in the oven for the rest of your Christmas dinner. You may also add chopped onions and bell peppers for extra flavor to this dish.

Creamy Cheese Cubed Potatoes

potatoes

potatoesIf you prefer you may also use southern hash browns with peppers and onions.
What You Need:

2 (10 3/4 oz.) cans cream of celery soup
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. chive and onion cream cheese
1 (2 lb.) pkg. frozen cubed potatoes
1 (4 oz.) pkg. cheddar cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

The oven temperature is set to preheat to 350 degrees.
With a non stick cooking spray generously spray a 9×13 baking dish.
In a large microwavable bowl put the soup and cream cheese.
Microwave on high, covered 3 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, stirring occasionally
Take from microwave and fold in the potatoes until well coated.
Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven 35 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the potatoes evenly.
Put back in oven and bake 2 minutes longer until the cheese is starting to melt.

Makes 12 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 40 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

You may use hash browns or potato slices to make these cheesy potatoes.

Juicy Chicken From a Pressure Cooker

roasted-chix

roasted-chixWhen cooking chicken in a pressure cooker you will find that those recipes turn out more tender and juicy not to mention it takes less time. These chicken recipes will not only taste great but they will be a joy to cook.

Down Home Chicken Casserole

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
• 3 medium potatoes
• 3 to 3-1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt to taste
• 2 slices of bacon, cut into 1” pieces
• 1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms
• 12 very small pearl onions, peeled
• 1 tsp. flour
• 1/4 cup chicken stock

Preparation:

Peel the potatoes. Create small balls using a melon scoop. Sprinkle the chicken with salt. Place bacon in pressure cooker and sauté until it has rendered its fat. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pressure cooker. Add the potatoes to the fat and quickly sauté until lightly brown. Remove the potatoes and set aside. Add chicken pieces and brown on all sides, remove. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for one minute. Sprinkle in the flour, then add the stock and return the chicken, bacon and potatoes to the pressure cooker. Lock the lid in place, bring to pressure. Then lower heat and cook for 8 minutes at 15 psi. Allow pressure to drop by quick release or auto release and remove the lid.

Chicken and Vegetables with Rice

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 chorizo sausage thinly sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
• 1 large ripe tomato peeled
• 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 3 cups chicken stock or broth
• 1 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Salt and pepper the chicken and heat olive oil in pressure cooker. Add onion, garlic, red bell pepper and tomato and cook until the onion is soft. Add rice and cook for 1 minute. Add peas, stock, salt chicken and chorizo with any accumulated juices. Stir well. Lock the lid, bring to pressure, then lower heat and cook for 7 minutes at 15 psi. Allow pressure to drop by quick release or auto release, then remove lid.

Curry Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 3/4” pieces
• 4 large onions cut into wedges
• 1-1/4 cups water
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. curry powder
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Preparation:

Cook rice using pot in pot method and set aside in a warm place. Heat the oil in the pressure cooker and sauté the chicken and onions over medium-high heat until the chicken starts to lightly brown. Add water, garlic, oil, and soy sauce. Sprinkle in the chili powder, curry, turmeric and ground ginger and stir till well blended.

Lock the lid in place and bring to pressure. Lower heat and cook for 4 minutes at 15 psi. Allow pressure to drop by the natural release method for 4 minutes. Release the remaining pressure using the quick release method or automatic release method and remove lid. Stir in parsley and serve over the warm rice.

Brown Sugar Bananas for Kids

bananas

bananasWhat You Need:

4 large ripe bananas, peeled
2 T of brown sugar
1/8 t of nutmeg
1 C of water

How to Make It:

Lay the bananas in a single layer into a casserole dish.
Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the bananas then add the nutmeg.
Tightly seal the dish with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Place the trivet into the bottom of the cooker.
Pour the water over the trivet.
Set the casserole dish onto the trivet.
Bring the pressure up to high and cook the bananas for 6 minutes.
Slowly release the pressure.

This casserole is best served warm. This may be served as a side dish or as a dessert with any meal. This is a great way to get kids to eat fruit as they love this dish. Fresh fruit cooks very quickly in a pressure cooker so be sure to keep a timer handy.

Makes 4 servings

Mixed Herb Vegetable Casserole

mixed-veggies

mixed-veggiesWhat You Need:

2 C of water
1 C frozen corn
1/2 C frozen peas
1/2 C red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 C frozen pearl onions
1 t of mixed herbs

How to Make It:

Place the trivet into the cooker then add the water.
Spray a casserole dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Layer the corn, peas, bell pepper and onion into the casserole dish.
Evenly sprinkle the herbs over the vegetables and stir to combine.
Tightly cover and place on the trivet.
Bring the pressure to high and cook the casserole for 5 minutes.
Quickly reduce the pressure by running under cold water.

This dish is great tasting and pretty to place on your table. Use this as a complimenting side dish for any meal. You may substitute frozen vegetables for the fresh is you prefer.

Makes 4 servings

Nothing but Veggie Casserole

cooking_fresh_vegestables

cooking_fresh_vegestablesWhat You Need:

2 C of water
1/2 C of fresh cauliflower florets
1/2 C of fresh carrots
1/2 C frozen peas
1/2 C of onion
1/4 C of red pepper, sliced
1/4 t of pepper
1/2 t of salt
2 T fresh parsley, chopped

How to Make It:

Place the cooker trivet into the cooker and add the water.
Lightly oil a small casserole dish.
Layer the cauliflower, carrots, peas, onion and red pepper slices into the dish.
Sprinkle the salt and pepper evenly over the vegetables.
Using aluminum foil, tightly cover the casserole.
Set the casserole dish onto the trivet.
Bring the cooker pressure to high pressure quickly and cook 2 minutes.
Release the pressure quickly by running under cold water.
Sprinkle the casserole evenly with the parsley before serving.

Substitute frozen vegetables for any of the fresh vegetables if you prefer. You could also add broccoli, green beans or substitute them for other vegetables.

Makes 4 servings

Alfredo Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

What You Need:

1 (10 oz.) jar Alfredo pasta sauce
1/2 C milk
2 1/2 C wild rice, cooked
2 C chicken, cooked and cubed
1 C of frozen peas
1/3 C bottled roasted red sweet peppers, chopped
1/4 C slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 t dried basil
1 C soft bread crumb
1 T of butter, melted

How to Make It:

Place the oven setting on 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
Pour the Alfredo sauce into a mixing bowl.
Add the milk and whisk until well blended.
Fold in the rice, chicken and peas until completely covered in the sauce.
Stir in the red sweet peppers and almond slivers.
Sprinkle in the dried basil and stir until blended together well.
Place the mixture into an ungreased casserole dish.
Cover the dish with foil and bake the casserole for 30 minutes.
Place the bread crumbs into a bowl.
Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs then toss to coat.
Spread the bread crumbs over the entire casserole.
Place the casserole back into the oven, uncovered and bake 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: approximately 25 minutes
Baking time: approximately 50 minutes
Total time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

1 C of uncooked rice, prepared as directed on the package, can be used in place of the already cooked rice. Substitute white rice if you prefer. Almond slivers can be toasted in the 350 degree oven for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.

Mandarin Orange Banana Casserole

What You Need:

6 bananas, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
1/2 C Mandarin orange sections
1 T brown sugar
2 T of orange juice
2 T of lemon juice

How to Make It:

Bring the oven heat to 350 degrees.
Use a non stick cooking spray and lightly grease a rectangular baking dish.
Place the bananas into the prepared dish in a single layer.
Layer the orange segments over the top of the bananas.
Sprinkle the brown sugar in an even layer over the fruit.
Whisk the orange juice and lemon juice together in a small bowl.
Pour the juice mixture over the top of the casserole.
Bake for 30 minutes being sure the casserole is completely heated through.

Serves: 6

This easy casserole is always a hit. Use the juice from the orange segments instead of regular orange juice. To give this casserole a little color, add a 1/4 C of halved Maraschino cherries on top of the orange segments.