Sausage and Potato Casserole with Creamy Cheese Sauce

 

Not a looker as far as 'plating' goes, but it is pure yummy comfort food!

 

A wonderful lady I work with says this is her 'go to' dish when she is taking food to someone who has been sick or recently had a baby.  It is comfort food for the whole family.  Delicious creamy textures, rich, warm-fuzzy inducing flavors - just put on your robe and slippers and call it a day!

 

 

3 cups russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 pound Kielbasa sausage

1/2 pound Velveeta

2 cups milk

4 Tbsp butter

4 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

 

Wash, peel and cut potatoes into cubes.  Boil. 

Slice sausage and then cut each slice in half.  Cook in skillet on medium-high heat for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Cut up Velveeta into smaller chunks for easier melting.  Place cheese, milk, flour, butter, salt and pepper in sauce pan and cook on medium until melted, stirring with whisk constantly.

Drain potatoes, rinse and pour into 9x13 casserole dish.

Top with sausage and even out.

Pour cheese sauce over sausage and potato mixture and cook for 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown.

 

Throw some green sides together and dinner is done!   :)

 

 



Sunday Weigh In

Let me first start my weekly weigh in post stating that we went out of town to the Bands of America competition.  

To San Antonio.

The Riverwalk.

The mexican food.

Enough said...

Needless to say I gained weight this week.

3.0 pounds to be exact.

I haven't tracked my foods since Thursday.  My husband's birthday was Tuesday, which meant chocolate cake.  Halloween was on Wednesday, which meant candy galore, everywhere!  So I knew today was going to be bad.

However, I have some new music on my little mp3 player and a pretty good feeling that this is going to be a good week!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!

I have to work tonight...my first Halloween to work.  Everyone feel sorry for me now.

I did ask for first call, but there are only four nurses scheduled tonight so we will see how that goes.  With pregnant women, you just never know.

My daughter, as you can see, is a panda this year.

And, of course, we dressed up the dogs!

"Hating this costume I am"

- Master Beane

I dressed up my golden retriever, Harvey, but that didn't go so well.  He was Darth Vader, but he really acted more like the leader of the Rebellion.  The Force was not strong enough with me to get a decent photo, alas...(letting my inner geek free for a moment!)

Speaking of the Force!  I heard about George Lucas selling StarWars to Disney!  There is much a buzz on Twitter about it.  A lot of people are freaking out, but I have faith in Disney.  They will do Episode 7 right.  It couldn't be worse than Jar Jar Binks...

The best thing about the sale is that Princess Leia is now a Disney princess!  I know that makes SciFi fans shudder, but for me it is like two worlds colliding in the most wonderful way possible!!

On a completely different note...I got to meet Governor Rick Perry the other day.  Very exciting!  He is the longest seated Governor in the history of this great state and I was so glad to get the chance to meet him!  

(never mind the chubby face - good grief!)

Happy Trick or Treating, but hopefully all treats!  Stay safe!

Sunday Weigh In

It's that time again!  

Started out the week not so great.  I went over on my points and dipped into those 'extra weekly points' at the beginning of the week.  By Wednesday I finally fixed myself.  It is slow and steady progress, which frustrates me a little.  I have to remind myself that this time I would do it right, even if that meant the progress would be slow and steady.  So with a smile on my face I blog that I lost 1.4 pounds this week.  That brings my grand total up to 11.6 pounds.

I believe they say that 10 pounds is equal to 1 dress size...that's a better way to think of it!

Sunday Weigh In

I have been sick, sick, sick since Wednesday.  That means I haven't been up to really cooking much of anything.  That means my points have been all over the place instead of consistently spread out throughout the day.  So the results for this week's weigh in:

I only lost 2 pounds this week, but that does bring me to a grand total of 10 pounds lost so far!  Not too bad.

Here's to better health and a better week!

Sunday Weigh In

WooHoo!!

This week I've lost 3 pounds.  That makes 8 total...not too bad for two weeks.

I haven't started exercising yet.  I think I'll add it in this upcoming week.  

Things to improve - water consumption.  I don't drink enough!  So I guess I'll be working on that as well.  Right now I am starving and even though it is 5:50 pm I am totally feeling some nutrigrain waffles with sugar free syrup coming my way!  That's the night shift!

Peanut Butter Cookies (sugar free)

Peanut Butter Cookies

(sugar free*)

1/2 of the basic sugar free cake mix cookie dough starter

(1 box of sugar free yellow cake mix, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, mixed and dough cut in half)

1/4 cup Peanut Butter, crunchy or creamy

that's it...

Mix it up until completely blended and spoon onto cookie sheet with a teaspoon.  Tap down with a fork and bake for about 8 minutes in oven preheated to 350 degrees.  Makes about 24 small cookies.

*only the cookie dough starter is sugar free, there is a bit of sugar in peanut butter

PointsPlus - 2 points per cookie

(Sugar Free) Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

So, yesterday was the cheater cookie dough with the cake mix and I used the sugar free yellow cake mix by Pillsbury so that I could score lower WeightWatchers points.  Well, today I am adding in some yummy extras!

Semisweet chocolate chips and pecans...

(Sugar Free) Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

1/2 of the cake mix cookie dough recipe

*I like to make the basic recipe (1 box cake mix, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup vegetable oil) and then cut it in half so I can make a smaller amount of different types of cookies.

1/2 cup chocolate chips, regular or minis

2 oz pecan pieces

Mix it all up and use a teaspoon to scoop and shape them.  Place them on the cookie sheet.  Bake in preheated oven (350) for about 8 minutes.  Makes about 24 small cookies.

Mr. H2 tested - 'can't even tell they are sugar free'

**only the cake mix is sugar free, for diabetics don't forget about the additives

PointsPlus - 2 (per cookie)

Basic Cake Mix Cookie Dough - Sugar Free Yellow Cake

I absolutely love the ease of cake mix cookies.  But, alas, I need to lose weight...what is a girl to do?

Find ways to bake and still lose weight!  

So, first tried item - the sugar free yellow cake by Pillsbury a la sugar free cookies!  This can be baked up plain or used as a cookie dough starter (which is what I usually do).

Basic Cake Mix Cookie Dough

1 box of your choice of cake mix

2 large eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix all of the ingredients up in a large mixing bowl until well combined.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for about 8 minutes.  Makes about 48 small cookies.

*Sugar free yellow cake mix version - PointsPlus - 1

Chicken Parmesan

So...I've given up dieting on my own and joined Weight Watchers online.  I have got to lose this extra mess!

I've been cooking more at home, but I haven't taken any pictures...I've been in a bit of a funk for oh, maybe the past month.  Probably because I know I need to diet and learn to eat better and stop throwing my sorrows into a pint of Blue Bell...

Anyways,

I am using the recipe builder and pointing my recipes!

Chicken Parmesan is one of my families favorites.  I usually pound the chicken breast to death with a meat tenderizer, dip it in the egg wash, dip it in the Italian panko crumbs and then double dip.  Then drizzle it with melted butter before it went into the oven...yum.  So good, but not so good for you.

I don't want to give up the food I love so I am trying to lighten it up.  Here's the new version.

Chicken Parmesan

2 pounds thin cut chicken breast

1 bottle of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray

Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs

2 jars spaghetti sauce, traditional

1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese

12 ounces spaghetti noodles

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place chicken breasts on baking sheets and tenderize with meat mallet.  Season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over the 9 pieces of chicken.  Spray each piece about 5 sprays and place in the oven.  Cook for about 15 minutes or until bread crumbs are browning.  Remove from the oven and spoon some warm spaghetti sauce over each piece.  Sprinkle evenly with cheese.  Return chicken to over to cook for about 5 minutes or until cheese is thoroughly melted.  Served over cooked pasta with additional sauce if desired.  

PointsPlus total: 12 points

(PointsPlus recipe builder)