-
Simple And Delicious Breakfast Casserole
I think it is safe to say that almost everyone loves breakfast food! I mean, what’s not to love? Sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, pancakes, and French toast. Are you hungry yet? This simple and delicious breakfast casserole combines several of the foods I mentioned above into one yummy dish. The best part is, you can prepare it the night before and pop it in the oven the next morning. You will go to bed with your mouth watering and dreaming about breakfast.
Here are the ingredients you will need:
- 1 1/2 pounds sausage
- 1 package (5.5 oz) herb seasoned croutons
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 8 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups half and half cream
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- salt and pepper to taste
The first thing you will do is sauté the onion in a pan. Once it has started to soften, add the sausage and cook until it is brown and crumbled.
Spread the croutons evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish. I like to use the seasoned croutons from Walmart and they work really well in the dish.
Next, you will cover the croutons with both the sharp cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese. Then, sprinkle the sausage and onions over the cheese. You can then set this aside as it will be time to mix the other ingredients.
In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, half and half, milk, salt, and pepper. I like to use a whisk to make sure it is mixed really well. Next, pour this mixture over the sausage mixture. You will then cover the casserole dish and refrigerate for 8 hours. I like to make this the night before we are going to eat it and let it refrigerate overnight.
I am going to be really honest, it is hard to sleep knowing this delicious breakfast casserole is in the fridge waiting to be baked and eaten the next morning. Ha! Ha! Just joking, but not really. This is what the casserole will look like when you remove it from the fridge. Now, the only thing standing in between you and this casserole is baking it at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. I usually find that it needs the full 60 minutes in order for it to be cooked well in the center.
How good does this look? My family loves this recipe for breakfast, or dinner. I like to serve it with biscuits and gravy, and a little sprinkle of gravy over the casserole hits the spot. I hope you all will try this simple and delicious breakfast casserole, and if you do, please let me know what you think. Also, here is a fruit salad you might like to serve with the casserole. Enjoy!
-
Easy Fruit Salad
It’s summer time! And the most delicious and refreshing thing to eat in the summer is fruit. This easy fruit salad is perfect for those days when you can’t decide if you want to eat an apple, or strawberries, or grapes because it combines all three! And, you can add any other fruit your heart desires.
Here are the ingredients that I used:
- 1 container of frozen strawberries with sugar
- 2 apples
- 2 cups of grapes, halved
Yes, that is it! That is all you need for this delicious fruit salad.
Not only is this fruit salad tasty, but it is also pretty inexpensive to make. All of the ingredients were less than $10. You really cannot beat that!
I cut both of the apples into bite sized pieces. I used Granny Smith apples for a little bit of tartness, but you can use whatever variety is your favorite. You can also use fresh peaches and/or pears.
Next, I sliced the grapes in half. These three types of fruit are what I typically use, but you can also add bananas, blueberries, or even blackberries. Once you have all of the fruit sliced and diced, combine with the strawberries in a large bowl. The strawberries will still be frozen, so place the bowl in the fridge to allow the strawberries to thaw and the other fruits to soak up the sweet juice!
Yum! How good does this look? Once the strawberries have melted, give everything a good stir and enjoy! This is perfect to make for parties, or just to eat at home. This is also delicious to eat on waffles with some whipped cream! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think. Also, if you want more recipes to enjoy you can get a copy of my Simple Summer Meals ebook!
-
Brussel Sprouts With Bacon
There are a lot of people out there who do not like brussel sprouts, but I promise you will LOVE these! It took me a while to get these just right and now that I have, I want to share them with you. Now, who’s ready for some brussel sprouts with bacon?
Here is what you will need:
- Brussel Sprouts (I use the bag from Costco)
- Bacon (I use the real bacon pieces)
- Onion
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
This is one of those recipes where you don’t do exact measurements. It is all about getting the brussel sprouts to the taste and consistency that you want.
The first thing I do is finely chop the onion. I love the flavor, but I don’t want large chunks mixed in with the brussel sprouts. Also, I typically don’t use the entire onion. Usually about three quarters of it is good enough for my taste buds.
Next, cut the brussel sprouts into quarters. If I use the bag of brussel sprouts from Costco, I use about half of the bag. If I use brussel sprouts from Walmart, I use the entire bag since it is smaller.
You will then take the olive oil and cover the bottom of a pan with it and turn it to medium heat. Add the onion and about half of the bag of bacon to the olive oil and sauté until the onion is tender.
And now, it’s time to add the brussel sprouts! I always add plenty of salt and pepper and stir often. I cook them until they are nice and tender.
These are so good and make a great side dish to go with chicken, fish, or beef. They are also perfect for Thanksgiving dinner! Let me know if you try them. I would love to know what you think!
-
Easy Cheesecake Dessert
There are so many delicious flavors when it comes to cheesecake. You can get plain, chocolate, turtle, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate and peanut butter, and so many more. One of the only downfalls of cheesecake is that it can be time consuming to make, but that is about to change right now! Check out how you can make this easy cheesecake dessert that will be a hit at your next party!
When I discovered the Philadelphia Cheesecake No Bake Filling everything changed for me. I absolutely love cheesecake, but it isn’t something that you can quickly and easily whip up, until now. There are so many different things you can do with this filling. You can use a regular size pie crust to make a cheesecake, you can crush Oreos and mix it in the filling and then put it in an Oreo pie crust, or you can just eat it plain! My new favorite thing to do is to get the small individual pie crusts, so each person can top it with whatever they like.
It’s like a make your own cheesecake bar. You can fill the individual pie crusts with the filling and then your guests can top it with whatever they like. You can use chocolate chips, Oreos, raspberries, strawberries, peanut butter chips, whipped cream, nuts, and so much more. This is just a nice way for your guests to personalize their cheesecake and make it what they like!
This is a perfect dessert for parties, showers, potlucks, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. You gotta love how quick and easy it is and there is no cooking or baking involved. You literally buy the ingredients and then sit them out in pretty dishes and they are ready to serve! My family has even done this for a weekend dessert because we have a hard time agreeing on one cheesecake flavor.
And there you have it! An easy cheesecake dessert that will be a crowd pleaser at your next get together. If you try this, please let me know what you think. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Heather Loves Home email list!
-
Caramel Apple Crisp Recipe
One of my favorite things about fall is apples. And one of my favorite things about apples is making a delicious apple crisp. It’s delicious served warm with some vanilla ice cream. Yum! Recently, I discovered salted caramel icing and that has been a game changer when it comes to how I make my apple crisp. In fact, it is so good I want to share it with you! Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of apples or enough fresh apples to cover the bottom of a 13×9 pan
- 1 box of Concord Foods apple crisp prepared according to package directions
- 1 can of Pillsbury salted caramel frosting
- your favorite vanilla ice cream
First, you will cover the bottom of the 13×9 pan with the apples. I must say the Great Value apple pie filling is delicious! Of course, if you prefer to use fresh those are best.
Next, you will make the apple crisp according to package directions (mixing it with melted butter) and then spoon it over the apples.
Once you have spread the apple crisp mixture over the apples, it is time to bake according to package directions. Be ready for your kitchen to smell heavenly! When the apple crisp is finished baking take it out of the oven and enjoy the aroma.
Now for the best part! Spoon some of the baked apple crisp into a bowl and don’t let it cool too much because you want it to be warm for when you add the salted caramel icing.
I like to take small dollops of the icing and put it on the baked apple crisp while it is hot. That way the icing will melt into the apples and the crisp. That is the best part! And then of course, you add the ice cream and it is perfection!
This dessert is perfect for a family dinner, potluck, or even Thanksgiving dinner! You and your guests will love the mix of apples, crisp, caramel, and ice cream. Perfection!
-
Yummy Salad With Homemade Dressing
Everyone loves a good salad and trust me, this one will not disappoint! If you only choose to try one recipe that I post here at Heather Loves Home, make sure it is this yummy salad with homemade dressing. It is so good and goes well with chicken, steak, fish, or by itself! I make it every year as a side with our Christmas dinner and it would also make a great side for Thanksgiving.
Here is the list of ingredients for the salad mix:
- 1 large container of spring mix (I like to use organic spring mix from Walmart)
- 2 cups of shredded mozzarella
- 2 cups of parmesan cheese
- 1 small bag of real bacon pieces
- 1 5oz package of Craisins
- Sliced almonds for garnish (optional)
Here is the list of ingredients for the dressing:
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of red wine vinegar
Now for the fun part! Mix all of the salad ingredients together and toss. Next, mix the vegetable oil, sugar, and red wine vinegar in the blender until well blended. The only step left is to pour the dressing over the salad. I usually wait until we are ready to eat until I pour the dressing over the salad. However, this salad is also delicious leftover.
Actually, here is one more step and that is to ENJOY IT! I promise you will not be disappointed and if you are looking to make lifetime friends, then take this yummy salad with homemade dressing to your next potluck! Also, here is a quick tip. When I take this to a potluck, I mix the salad ingredients ahead of time and I also blend the dressing, but I don’t pour the dressing over the salad until we are ready to eat. This will keep the salad from getting too soggy. If you make this, please let me know how you like it. Enjoy!
-
Valentine’s Hot Chocolate Bar
Did you know that January 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day? And of course, there is no better way to celebrate than with a Valentine’s Hot Chocolate Bar! This time of year is all about chocolate, candy, hearts, and love. And who doesn’t love a delicious cup of hot chocolate? Here is some simple decor from the Dollar Tree that I used to make the hot chocolate bar look just a little more festive.
I used traditional Valentine’s Day colors, pink red and white, to decorate and make it bright and cheery. Then I used my glass serving dishes, so the candy, cookies, and decorations can be the stars of the show. There is no right or wrong way to do a hot chocolate bar. My family likes marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles and because it is the season of candy, I also served Sixlets, peppermint sticks, and sugar cookies!
The follow your heart bin came from the Dollar Tree and it is the perfect size to hold the packets of hot chocolate. And what do you think about the heart mug? It came from Target and then I covered it in heart felt stickers. I love it!
It’s so much fun to get creative and use serving dishes in impractical ways. I used the juice carafe for the marshmallows, so they can be poured right into the mug. I also took the small bucket with the hearts on it and filled it with ice for the whipped cream to sit in and stay cold.
Putting something like this together for your next party or small gathering does not have to be hard, or expensive. Most of these items I already had on hand, or I purchased at the Dollar Tree or Target Dollar Spot. And don’t you love when your food can also serve as decor? I love things that serve more than one purpose!
Now you can go make your own Valentine’s Hot Chocolate Bar! Pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, top with marshmallows and whipped cream, and add a peppermint stick. Oh, and don’t forget the sprinkles! Enjoy!
-
Easy BLT Rollup Recipe
Who loves a good BLT? I know I do! I have an easy BLT rollup recipe to share with you. This recipe only takes a few ingredients and is a great snack or appetizer. It’ also a perfect summer recipe and delicious when you use tomatoes fresh from the garden. This is also a great recipe to make ahead for parties and tailgating.
Here is what you will need:
- 8 0z cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup bacon ranch dressing
- 1/4 box cherry tomatoes (diced)
- 3/4 cup bacon (crumbled)
- 1/2 cup celery (diced)
- 2 tbsp onion (diced)
- 1 tsp sugar
- one package medium size tortillas
I start out by dicing the onion, celery, and tomatoes into small pieces and then I set aside.
Next, I cream the bacon ranch dressing, cream cheese, and sugar together.
Once the cream cheese and dressing are mixed well, I add in the bacon (I use real bacon pieces) and mix well. If you want a crunchier texture, you can cook up some bacon and make it extra crispy.
The diced veggies are the last ingredients I add and I gently mix them, so the tomatoes don’t become mushy. After all ingredients are mixed well, it is time to spread the mixture onto the tortillas.
I didn’t snap a photo of this, but you will evenly spread about two spoonfuls onto each tortilla and then roll the tortilla up. Repeat until all of the mixture is gone. Last time I made these, I used seven medium sized tortillas. The rollups will need to be refrigerated for at least two to three hours. When you are ready to serve, remove them from the fridge and slice. This recipe is so easy and so good!
What do you think about my easy BLT rollup recipe? If you try them, I would love to know your thoughts. Enjoy!
-
Easy Summer Pasta Salad
One of my favorite things to do is share an easy and inexpensive recipe with you. This easy summer pasta salad is perfect for a night where you need a quick meal. It is also a great side dish for a potluck barbecue. My family loves it and I know you will too!
What you will need:
- 1 box of pasta (we like a 16 oz box of rotini)
- 1/2 – 2/3 bottle of greek salad dressing (we like Ken’s Simply Vinaigrette)
- 1 cucumber
- 1 green pepper
- 1 box cherry tomatoes
- 1 small can sliced black olives
- 1 4 oz container of feta cheese
- 1 package of mini pepperoni (optional)
The first thing you will do is boil the pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is boiling, I chop the green pepper, cucumber, and tomato. I like to cut each tomato into quarters, but you can cut them in half if you prefer.
Once the pasta is done, I drain and rinse in cold water. I then add it to a large bowl, so it will be easy to mix.
Next, you will add all of the chopped veggies to the pasta and lightly toss. If you like a lot of veggies, you can use more than what I listed above. You can also try different colored peppers as well. Once the veggies and pasta are mixed, it is time to add the olives and feta cheese. You can also add the pepperoni, but I did not have any on hand when I made this batch. Lightly toss all of those ingredients until mixed well.
The last step is to add the dressing and honestly, this is all about personal preference. I prefer to use about a half bottle because I don’t like a lot of dressing. My husband prefers to use about two thirds of the bottle of dressing. My suggestion is to add the dressing in small increments and stir until you get it just the way you want it.
And there you have it! This easy summer pasta salad makes a great side dish and is also great to eat alone. Especially, if you add the pepperoni. I hope you will give it a try and tell me what you think. Enjoy!