Spicy Smoked Sausage Alfredo Bake

This is a Pinterest find that was on my dinner radar, and I finally made it this week. We started eating and my 11 year old immediately said, "This is going to be my birthday dinner!" It was very easy to make, and you can do a lot of different things with it, like add veggies or use a different protein. Since this was my first time trying the recipe, I followed the directions exactly and used turkey sausage. I had a hard time deciding on what sausage to buy, and went with the healthy option. :) The cayenne in the sauce is definitely noticeable, but next time, I think I will try a spicy sausage. My husband also suggested the addition of bacon on top, so I'll try that next time as well and post an update. UPDATE: Bacon is amazing, but I'm sure we all knew that. :)

Spicy Smoked Sausage Alfredo Bake
adapted from letsdishrecipes.com
16 oz dry pasta
3 TBSPs butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSPs flour
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
1-2 TBSPs chopped fresh parsley
1 pkg (12 oz) fully cooked smoked sausage, any variety
3 slices, cooked crumbled bacon (optional)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente; drain.
2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Stir in flour.
3. Whisk in chicken broth until smooth, then stir in half and half.
4. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, and red pepper flakes and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir in Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella until cheeses are melted and smooth.
6. Slice sausage into 1/4 inch pieces and add to the sauce, along with the chopped parsley and cooked pasta. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
7. Preheat broiler. Pour the pasta mixture into a lightly greased, 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese, and bacon (if desired).
8. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.

Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake

When your husband tells you last minute that you need to take a dessert somewhere, and you don't want to go to the store, this is your cake. I thought my last minute cake would be a fitting last post of 2014. :) It's not exactly last minute because of the baking time, but if you have all the basics, and about an hour, you can make this! The glaze I use when I don't want to do a lot of work is just powdered sugar and milk, but if you prefer frosting, you can easily top the cake with that.

Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake
adapted from allrecipes.com
Cake
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 TBSP cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 TBSPs milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch bundt pan.
2. Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Mix in vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Pour flour mixture into batter alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in walnuts, mixing just enough to evenly combine. Pour half the batter into the prepared pan.
4. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with the cinnamon.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the batter in the pan. Drop remaining cake batter in heaping spoonfuls over filling, covering it as best you can.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
7. Combine powdered sugar and milk, adding enough milk to make desired consistency, and mix until combined. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Peanut Butter Ritz

I have been trying to keep it low key this Christmas with my baking and candy making. I haven't made much except for some Cranberry Orange Bread and a few cookies. One new thing I did try however, was these peanut butter crackers. I got the idea from a cook book I own called Eat More Dessert by Jenny Keller. I love this cookbook! It has such cute and easy dessert ideas for parties. I also love it because I was able to go to a book signing and she autographed my book. :) I won't post her recipe, because I'm sure she would like you to buy the book, but I'll give you the basics. I spread some peanut butter between 2 Ritz crackers and then dipped it in melted almond bark. I also tried it with green and red. You could make these for any occasion really, and they are extra cute with a little piped on design on the top.

Mulling Spice

This isn't a recipe, more of a suggestion. :) I'm in love with this mulling spice. I get it from Winco in the bulk spices section. I wrap up about 2 TBSPs in a little square of cheesecloth and tie it with some kitchen twine. I heat up 4 quarts of apple juice, dunk that little packet down in there, and let it simmer for about 2 hours. You can add orange slices for a citrus flavor. It makes the kitchen smell amazing and also makes a cute and cheap gift. Go buy some.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Shepherd's Pie

One more leftover turkey recipe I want to post before I forget. This is what I did with a bunch of our leftovers, and I might have liked it more than the original turkey dinner meal. :) I looked at my regular Shepherd's Pie recipe as a guide and this is that I came up with.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Shepherd's Pie

3 cups leftover turkey pieces, bite size
1 cup leftover turkey gravy
2 cups leftover vegetables (I used green beans and corn)
3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 x 12 or 3 quart baking dish.
2. Combine turkey, gravy, and vegetables, and spoon into baking dish.
3. Cover with potatoes and sprinkle with cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Turkey Cranberry Sandwich

Hope everyone had some yummy food yesterday! I know I did! If you are looking for something to do with your leftover turkey, this is for you. 

Turkey Cranberry Sandwich

Sourdough bread
Leftover turkey (can also use turkey lunch meat)
Sliced Cheese (I used cheddar in my pic)
Mayo
Leftover cranberry relish
Lettuce or spinach
Tomato
Butter or margarine for grilling

Layer the turkey, cheese, and a little mayo on the bread. Spread some butter or margarine on the outside of the bread. Grill in a pan on the stove top or in a panini press. After it's golden and the cheese is melted, open it up, spread on the cranberries, and top with lettuce and tomato.

Cruise Food

I've been slacking with the blog lately for a reason. We went on a cruise last week and I had been trying to lose a little weight beforehand. I haven't made anything good for the last couple of months and because of that, I was able to reach my goal. :) One of the reasons I wanted to lose weight, was so I could enjoy LOTS of food on the cruise, and we ate A LOT! :) Possibly the best thing about being on a cruise is all the food, and I DON"T HAVE TO MAKE IT! And no dishes! I took a few pictures of things, but the dining room didn't have the best lighting and they are phone pics, but I wanted to share.

 First, my awesome friend, Amber, brought me some Blue Bell. It had been over a year and a half!

 Buffets are the best!

 Chocolate Panna Cotta

 A Fancy Looking Salad

 Chilled Peach Soup (tasted like peach juice)

Lasagna

Baked Alaska! Had never tried this before. Yum!

 Carrot Cake

 We ventured out to a restaurant in Jamaica to get some real jerk chicken.

 Johnny Rockets Chicken Sandwich

 Ate loads of soft serve.

Saved the grossest for last. My hubby tried escargot. Said it was squishy.