Easy Italian Bake

So excited to share this delicious recipe with you! It comes together easily to create a scrumptious dinner perfect for company or a busy weeknight. I took a quick picture of the ingredients before cooking but accidentally forgot to include the cream cheese…oops! 

Easy Italian Bake

4 cups bowtie pasta (or any type of noodle)

1 pound mild Italian Sausage

2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

4 oz. cream cheese, softened and cubed

2 (5 oz.) cans Evaporated Milk

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt

 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Cook noodles in boiling water in a saucepan according to directions on the box.  In the meantime, cook Italian Sausage in a medium skillet until no longer pink; then stir in tomato sauce and Italian Seasoning….simmer on low heat.  Drain noodles and then return back into saucepan. Add cream cheese, evaporated milk and garlic salt to the noodles. Turn heat on low and stir until cheese melts and sauce begins to thicken.  Pour noodle mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch casserole pan. Spread tomato meat mixture over the top. Sprinkle 2 cups (or more) of Mozzarella cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 18 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly. 

The delicious smell of the Italian Sausage, tomato sauce and cheesy noodles fills up the entire kitchen! I served this casserole along with a slice of Texas toast, a side of steamed broccoli and fresh fruit.  Everyone enjoyed this Italian dinner and several family members asked for seconds.  This recipe could easily be made with whatever noodles you have in your pantry…such as penne or even spaghetti.  You could also use regular ground beef (or ground turkey) instead of the Italian Sausage. Your family will happily devour this "Easy Italian Bake"!!!!

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

This past weekend my family was busy with a Friday night football game, early Saturday morning soccer game, robotic league practice, local chili cook off and visiting relatives in town. Needless to say I was in need of an easy but satisfying breakfast to gear everyone up for a non-stop day ahead. After looking back at casserole recipes that I've made in the past I decided to pick this one. A simple glance at the ingredients lets you know that the basic food combination guarantees a breakfast that everyone will love!

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

recipe from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen with Trisha Yearwood 

1/2 loaf of sliced white loaf bread

1 pound fresh bulk pork sausage with sage

10 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated

2 cups half-and-half

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt (I recommend using 1/2 tsp. or less)

5 large eggs, lightly beaten

Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.  In a medium skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon to drain the fat.  Spread the cooked sausage over the bread and top with the cheese.  Then stir together the half-and-half, dry mustard, salt and eggs in a small bowl.  Pour this mixture over the cheese. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.  The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the covered casserole  until set and slightly golden, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to set for 15 minutes before serving. 

So the next time you need a delicious breakfast casserole try this recipe and serve along with a side of fresh fruit. You could easily substitute cooked diced bacon instead of the sausage or even leave the meat out all together. If your family enjoys a veggie version than just add finely diced onions, green peppers or mushrooms. This recipe is guaranteed to impress your guests and provides the perfect warm meal to start your day!!!