Sausage & Potato Casserole

This must be one of those cozy, fall recipes, because it never fails... I always begin making this Sausage & Potato Casserole around Halloween ! It's great. My entire family loves it.

Sausage & Potato Casserole


1 lb. polska Kilbasa, cut into bite size pieces ( I use Hillshire Farms Turkey Polska Kilbasa)
2 1/2 C. potatoes, cut into bite size pieces ( I use red potatoes )
1 can cream of celery soup
1/3 C. water
1/2 C. cheddar cheese
1/2 C. green pepper, diced (optional- I usually don't add it )

Grease 10" baking casserole dish (not if you use Emile Henry products !)

Line bottom with sausage,potatoes & green pepper

* Heat soup, cheese & water. Stir til it melts
Stir cheese sauce over potatoes.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.

Note- If you have a large family like I do, please DOUBLE this recipe. The photo taken here is what it looks like doubled. This makes a great snack as leftovers for lunch the next day !!

*photo taken before cheese sauce is added, and before baking in my Emile Henry Casserole Pan

The Wine Exchange

It's Friday Night. I've had a long week. Tonight, I'm not feeling well. I didn't even make my "homemade" pizza. I ordered Luigi's Pizza for a whopping $35.76 ! Waaaaaaa ! But what can I say...I'm not superwoman.
Dang !

The least I can do is review the wine I'm drinking with our Pizza !!

J Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot 2005/06 Paso Robles, California

"A rich Merlot showing juicy cherry flavors.
A dark red, supple and soft Merlot from carefully selected vineyards in California’s Paso Robles region. This full-bodied wine shows lively."

It has rasberry, red currant, and blackberry !
I bought it at Walmart for $13.99.
Will I buy this again ? Yes! Simply fabulous !!

The most amazing homework helper for your child...Grades K-12 !!

I use this program for 3 of my kids ! It's the most amazing thing ! Read this article if your child needs homework help ! I couldn't survive without this !!

How to Get the Best Homework Help for Your Child
Discovery Channel's homework help toolkit has everything you will need to help your child, from video, encyclopedia, interactive games, reference content, and tutorials to help kids stay engaged in learning.
View more »

Queen B's Lemon Drop Martini

Here it is family & friends, my Lemon Drop Martini Recipe everyone demands when I serve these up !

Queen B's Lemon Drop Martini

4 oz. vodka ( currently using Grey Goose Le Citron !, but any good vodka will do ! )

4 oz. sweet & sour mixer (I use Master of Mixes Sweet & Sour mixer )

juice of 1 whole Lemon

4 tsp. sugar

For a nice presentation, place 3 TBS. of Lemon Drop Rimmer sugar on a flat plate. Run a wedge of lemon around the rim of a martini glass then dip the moistened rim into the mixture and rotate the glass until evenly coated.

Mix in shaker full of crushed ice.

Strain into Martini glasses. Serves 4.

That Yummy Taco Salad !!!

Last night I asked the kids what they wanted for dinner this week... The answer was unanimous !! A resounding "That Yummy Taco Salad" was the answer. Now , we are talking about a pre-teen & 2 teenagers. If you have kids, you know it's pretty hard to please them sometimes, so it must be good ! I went to WalMart for the ingredients, so it's really not all that expensive. Here it is if you want to try it !

Taco Salad by Paula Deen
Prep Time: 10 min
6 to 8 servings

2 ripe tomatoes, diced ( I use more, I like tomatoes!)
1/2 pound sharp Cheddar, shredded
1 head iceberg lettuce, washed, drained and shredded

1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef, browned, crumbled and drained

16 oz. Catalina Salad dressing ( or less, depending on your taste )
1 (7-ounce) bag Fritos, crushed
8 oz. Taco Sauce ( I use Old El Paso Taco Sauce, Medium )

Brown Beef & Onion together, set aside.

Combine the tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, and ground beef in a large bowl. Add the salad dressing and mix well. Just before serving, add the taco chips, tossing to combine with other ingredients. Top each serving with taco sauce. Yum !

My One Month Pizza Project-

I had started the "One Month Make Your Own Pizza Project" to see if I truly would end up with extra cash at the end of the month. It worked ! I saved almost $100.00 by making my own pizza ! Not only does it taste better, but I saved money, and found that my daughter is so excited for Pizza Night ! Her Sil-Pin Junior was a HUGE HIT, and it works soooo great !!
Remember, it feeds my entire family of 6, Plus we have leftovers for lunch the next day ! Saving me even more !!

Making HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH IS SO EASY !! Try it, and you'll be so impressed with yourself !!

adding the pineapple Right out of the oven ! Try the One Month Pizza Project for yourself, and leave me a comment if you do !!!!

It's MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA night at Cozy Kitchen by the Sea !

My favorite night....Make Your Own Pizza night !
I can't believe my luck ! Last time we made pizza, my 'helper' kept insisting on borrowing my rolling pin. I was trying to be patient, but I don't have all day to play in the dough ! While I was at Ross in search of cool, bargain kitchen items, I found the perfect accessory for my "helper".
It's a Sil-Pin Junior !! I found it at Ross for $5.99
Just her size !!

Doesn't everyone make pizza in a tutu ?

My "Princess" made this for me... She said it was "US"...because our hands were 'together'.
Waaaaa!! I love Homemade Pizza Night ! I could never have these precious memories with pizza out of a box !!

This is how I greet every morning !

Wake up to the perfect cup of
Coffee
1/4 C. of ground coffee
4 C. water
top it off with a splash ( or more !) of
International Foods Vanilla Creamer or your favorite flavor. They always have new, great flavors during the Holidays.

My coffee choice at the moment are...
Starbucks Verona
Peets
Seattle's Best

BBQ PORK LOIN for the Crock Pot (PULLED PORK)

I love BBQ. I'm very, very picky when it comes to BBQ. This is a fantastic, EASY recipe. Takes just minutes to prepare. I made this yesterday, since I knew I was going to be out all day. It's the perfect recipe for those days when you know you have a soccer game to attend and won't be home til late, or if your out shopping or working all day. How nice it is to come home to the smell of homemade BBQ !

1. Place 3 lb. pork loin in crock pot. Add 1 C. water.
Cook on HIGH FOR 7 HOURS.

shred with 2 forks

then add

1 18 oz. bottle of BBQ Sauce ( I love KC Masterpiece )

1/4 C. brown sugar

2 TBS. hot sauce ( I use Tabasco)

1 t. salt & 1 t. pepper

Cook on LOW covered for 1 hour more hour.

Serve on buns.

Note: I like it HOT ! So, I top mine with .....

Bone Suckin' Sauce...Hiccuppin' Hot !

Click here: Welcome To The Official Home of Bone Suckin' Sauce!

Enjoy!

Recipe from Southern Living Annual Recipe Book 1997

** also see ROOT BEER STYLE PULLED PORK

Meet my new best friend, TJ Maxx

Ok, so my favorite stores are Williams-Sonoma, and Crate and Barrel when it comes to kitchen items. I don't have the time to bargain shop and go through stuff all jumbled together on shelves. I like a nice presentation. That was until I moved into the Cozy Kitchen by the Sea, where not only the Kitchen is "Cozy", but so is this town. Unless I online shop, I'm frankly out luck. TJ Maxx opened up this summer about 30 miles away. I had an appointment on that side of town today, so I ran in real quick. I came out with these goodies... I love nothing more than a good bargain, especially in this economy. I'm really looking to save where I can. Having a Cozy Kitchen stocked with fun goodies keeps me home, happy and cooking !

These came home to the Cozy Kitchen...
WILLIAMS -SONOMA CANDLE for $9.99 ! ( I bought Peppermint! Think Holidays!!) was 19.95

"Autumn" Nonpareils by The Gourmet Baking Co. for $3.99 ( was 6.00) Looks like I'll be baking in the near future! They are a gorgeous blend of fall colors !

Mrs. Myers Clean Day Handsoap in "Gingerbread" ! I can hardly wait to set this on my sink !! It smells so good! $3.99 ( was 6.00)

The Cozy Kitchen's Pizza Tradition

I was completely inspired by Donna Talley and her article in The Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications ITALIAN magazine ! She shares the story of her own pizza making traditions with her family and the recipe that her Sicilian grandmother created 100 years ago ! I loved the idea that making pizza could truly become a 'family tradition' in my own home. I love to cook, and I'm always, and I do mean, ALWAYS in the kitchen and I love it. But I also want to have those memories of spending time together in my kitchen, where it's ok for the kids to help... and this is the perfect solution. I'm beginning my own PIZZA TRADITION TODAY ! Thank you Donna Talley for inspiring me !

I can't believe it. I finally made my first homemade pizza....and it turned out perfectly ! Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can do it ! I got tired of spending $35.oo every Friday Night for Pizza Night. We can't start out a weekend without PIZZA NIGHT ! As much as I LOVE to cook, I have just been too terrified to ever try and make my own pizza dough. UNTIL NOW ! There's something to be said for that quote...."Just do it"....

Dry yeast .59
Tomato sauce .49
4 c. cheese 4.00
toppings ? depending on what you choose... $2 - $5.00
** feeds my family PLUS we have leftovers ! HELLO !

$35.00 FOR 2 LARGE pizzas at our favorite place...

Or HOMEMADE BY YOU for $10.08 !! What a wonderful family tradition ! I know I can count on the Princess to "help" me ! (priceless!)

I think I might do this Christmas Eve !
The best part is that my family likes mine better !!!! Yippee !!

My first decorated cake !

I can't belive it. I can actually decorate a cake !
I was getting so sick of buying store cakes, because I just don't enjoy eathing them, that I was determined to make and decorate one for the first time. It was fun, and I'm looking forward to trying this again, now that I know how to do it !
Cake pan by Wilton.

The Princess is having a birthday tomorrow...
It took me 3 hours to decorate the cake !

Baking Cookies

If you're old enough, maybe you remember this cookbook in your Mom's kitchen !

I can't tell you how much I LOVED flipping through this book when December rolled around, and I would stare at all the pretty cookies and dream of them ! I was thrilled beyond belief to find this at Costco one year. I snatched it up simply because it reminded me of my childhood !

Now, all my kids love it when I dig it out and put it on the kitchen table. The kids have left sticky notes on pages pointing to the cookie they would love for me to bake one day !

Well, as Hanna approaches, I figure I'll be in for the weekend. I got out this cookbook today, ran to the store, and the Princess and I are going to bake...

CHOCOLATE CRINKLES !! by Betty Crocker

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. In large bowl, mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray.
3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

Baked French Toast

Happy Labor Day ! As I type, I have Baked French Toast ( The Gourmet Cookbook ) in the oven. It smells heavenly. The kids keep asking me how many more minutes until I serve it ! 7 minutes left, so I better type fast.

I can't tell you how crazy my kids are for this. It is simply delicious, and soooo easy to prepare the night before ! Write this on your calendar right now, to prepare on Christmas Eve ! I can't find the recipe online right now, but if you have this cookbook on your shelf, dig it out right now !