Jesus Take The Meal

  Meet my oldest kid's favorite side dish. To his credit, they are delicious. These make a very large bowl, so feel free to half the recipe for a smaller family. These make an appearance every Thanksgiving, and someone asks for the recipe every year. I subbed Alouette Garlic and Herb cheese here because the store was out of Boursin and I was making them that evening. Use Boursin when you can find it - I prefer it over Alouette. Ingredients: 4 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes (I use the entire 5 lb bag) Fresh chopped chives 2 packages soft garlic herb cheese, such as Boursin 6 T Butter 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 cup whole buttermilk 1 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper (I use more) Directions: Preheat oven to 400. Cook peeled potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain and mash with potato masher. Add cheese, 4 T butter, salt, pepper, and chives until combined. Stir in buttermilk until well combined. The mixture should be slightly more liquid than you would want but not overly so.  Spoon into a ligh...

 I've been a bit MIA. I host Thanksgiving each year for my family, and I was in the trenches of planning, shopping, and cooking. And while I know that it seems that this should be a place to share - I mean, it is a cooking blog... But when I am in the middle of cooking about 5 different things at once, it is hard to stop, take pics, and organize ingredients. I will try to work in some of the holiday recipes, but for now I have an easy, quick recipe for breakfast. You only need 2 ingredients for these copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Minis.  Ingredients: I bag of Sister Schubert's Parker House rolls 1 bag of Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Bites Directions: Thaw rolls and cook according to directions, but be careful not to brown. I always cook the nuggets in the air fryer. These nuggets are brined in pickle juice just like the ones at CFA, so they will give you the most authentic taste. Once everything is ready, you can assemble and enjoy. And save loads!!!

  My kids have never had Hamburger Helper. To be honest, I didn't have it a bunch growing up. But occasionally, my mom would buy it, and while it wasn't my favorite I will be the first to say this dish is pretty darn good. I could sit down and scarf down a huge bowl because it tastes like straight comfort food. And it all cooks in ONE POT!!!! Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef 2 T tomato paste 1 T Dijon mustard 1 T garlic powder 1 t onion powder 1 t dried thyme 1 t salt 1/2 t black pepper 1/4-1/2 t cayenne pepper 12 oz dried macaroni noodles 4 cups beef broth 1 c half and half 2 c shredded cheddar, take the time and shred your own Directions: https://www.aspicyperspective.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-cheeseburger-macaroni/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug

Growing up, I never liked mac and cheese in the crockpot. I don't know why. My nephew made this recipe a few years ago, and I have made it ever since. I double it for Thanksgiving! It's easy but SO good.  Ingredients: 16 oz macaroni noodles, prepared according to directions 1 can cheddar cheese soup 16 oz sour cream 1 lb. shredded sharp cheddar 1 lb. shredded mild cheddar 1/2 c. butter salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1 tsp. ground mustard Directions: Spray your crockpot with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients minus noodles in crockpot. After cooking and draining noodles, stir in warm noodles to all other ingredients. Stirring them in while warm will help cheeses melt and everything combine. Stir well. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Stir well a few times while cooking to incorporate all ingredients. 

I roasted broccoli like this years ago and have never made it another way. It's fast, easy, and so good! Ingredients: Broccoli florets, trimmed of any long stems Olive oil for drizzling minced garlic salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1/2 lemon parmesan cheese or pecorino romano  Directions: Preheat oven to 425. Drizzle olive oil on broccoli florets. You don't want them drenched in oil. I usually drizzle then toss around with my hands. Add minced garlic and toss. Place spread out on a foil lined sheet pan. You don't want piles of broccoli because it will steam vs roast. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast at 425 for about 15-20 min or until broccoli begins to brown. Remove from oven and squeeze juice from 1/2 lemon over broccoli. Grate some cheese over broccoli using a fine grater like a microplane. Enjoy!

This is a special breakfast I don't make often, but when I do my boys LOVE it! It's easy, less than an hour, and ooey, gooey, goodness.  Ingredients: 3 10oz canned biscuits, cut into 1/6 pieces 1/2 c. sugar 2 tsp cinnamon 1 c brown sugar 1/2 c butter 1 tsp vanilla Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray. Cut biscuits into sixths or eighths and set aside. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a gallon ziplock bag. Toss biscuit pieces in and shake to coat. In a small pot, melt brown sugar, vanilla, and butter until brown sugar has dissolved and butter is melted. Pour biscuit pieces into the prepared bundt pan. Pour brown sugar/butter over biscuits evenly. Bake at 350 for about 30 min or until biscuits are cooked. If you don't have a bundt pan, you may bake in a 9x13 dish, but you will have to watch more closely since it won't take as long to bake. Let cool for a few minutes and flip onto cake plate or serving dish. Enjoy!  I usually make the night before...

 I got this recipe from Southern Living years ago. Apparently, it's how Miranda Lambert's mom makes meatloaf. I usually half the recipe and make some mashed potatoes and broccoli to go with it. If you make the whole recipe, I would suggest shaping into 2 thin loaves before baking to cook all the way through a little better. Also, I ALWAYS bake the whole time with the sauce on vs putting it on at the end. Even if I half the recipe, I still use the same amount of pepper and onion. I usually add more if I make the whole recipe. I wish meatloaf made for a prettier picture, but let's face it - it ain't pretty. *I often make it ahead to the baking stage and pop into oven when preparing the rest of dinner Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef 1 lb pork sausage, I use Italian 2 eggs, lightly beaten 18 saltine crackers, crushed 1/2 green pepper, diced 1/2 yellow onion, diced 1 T Worcestershire 1 t yellow mustard 1/2 c. brown sugar,  divided 1/2 c. ketchup Directions: https://www.sout h...