02/17/2018Leave a comment

Here is a quick one for the Farmhouse Recipe Card section. I had a very busy morning.. so I am writing this up for y’all real quick…. have a great weekend!! Icing Recipe:  INGREDIENTS 1 cup real butter, 2 sticks at room temp 1 cups vegetable shortening 2 pounds of confectioners sugar 3 teaspoons vanilla … Continue reading Crusting Vanilla Buttercream Icing

02/17/2018Leave a comment

Bean DIP!! We have been on a serious dip kick this past month. I dunno why, but I’m certainly not gonna question such a good thing. That hunnyman O’ mine loves bean dip. I am a fan myself, so when I knew we would have the night alone together I made our favorite dip and … Continue reading Tex Mex Bean Dip

02/17/2018Leave a comment

I think Pico is very personal salsa … it just depends on who is making it. Some add jalapenos, some add cumin, some add vinegar… but me? I add a very unusual ingredient, which you will see in just a bit and wonder, “what in the world is Katt thinking?” Just wait…. you’ll see… you’ll … Continue reading Exploding Flavor Pico de Gallo

03/29/201803/29/2018Leave a comment

Anyone else love Steel Magnolias? How can you not love a classic like that? I mean, I guess its okay if you don’t, but it seriously makes me want to Bless your Heart . Remember the scene when Dolly (Truvy)  calls the tea, The House Wine of the South? Well… she wasn’t fibbin! I know … Continue reading Carolina Sweet Tea

03/09/201803/09/2018Leave a comment

Busy weeknights are a given. We all have them and we all loathe them. I don’t want to say, “that’s life,” but it kinda is. This quick family meal can come together in less than 30 minutes, its hearty and comforting. My family really enjoys it, and honestly, I do too. The flavors are full … Continue reading Tex-Mex Taters

09/26/201709/26/2017Leave a comment

  These peppers are popping with flavor! We can’t get enough of them, so I thought it was high time I shared them with y’all ! Easy recipe, hubbyman® and kid approved! Great for busy weeknights and even greater for couch snuggling and movie watching!   Ingredients 4 bell peppers, sliced in half length-wise ( … Continue reading Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers

08/07/2016Leave a comment

If you haven’t noticed yet, we love Mexican food! We tend to eat a lot of salsas in the Summer months. Its cold and refreshing. I promise, the Southern Comfort foods will hit the blog, as soon as it’s under 70* This is my daughter’s favorite salsa. You’ll need:   4-5 tomatoes, diced ( do … Continue reading Crock-pot® Salsa

07/31/2016Leave a comment

Melody’s  White Queso My daughter, what I can say about my daughter? That child loves Mexican Food and her go-to favorite at any restaurant is the White Queso. Most people are content with the free chips and salsa, not us… we gotta have the chips, salsa, white queso, AND the guacamole! We always tend to … Continue reading White Queso Dip

07/31/201607/31/2016Leave a comment

Hubbyman’s Salsa Verde… My Colorado born and raised Hubbyman is a Mexican Food Junkie ( I have been looking for a 12 step program, any near you ?) He is a Tamale fan from way back, but I tend to not want to heat up the stove with a steamer in JULY! So, I made … Continue reading Salsa Verde

05/21/201605/21/20161 Comment

I adore guacamole… it’s the hubbyman’s fault! Here’s his favorite recipe.   2 avocados 1/2 small “purple” ( okay red ) onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp fresh chopped cilantro 1 ripe tomato, chopped 1 lime, juiced 1/2 tsp Cumin salt and pepper to taste mash avocados in a medium serving bowl. … Continue reading Good Gracious Guacamole

05/21/2016Leave a comment

Pico, it’s way better than ketchup! Ingredients 6 roma tomatoes…diced small 1/2 red onion… okay, I can’t take it.. those onions are purple (I feel better) 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 jalapeno pepper… seeded and diced small 1/2 lime.. juiced 1 clove garlic, minced salt and pepper to taste Mix the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, … Continue reading Easy Peasy Pico

05/21/2016Leave a comment

Do you ever sit up at night and plan the menu for the next day? No? That’s just me?! Oh my goodness. I just love to cook, I love to eat too, that’s obvious… but cooking and feeding others, well that’s my passion. I’m not much of a photographer, but I’m getting there. I’m not … Continue reading Grilled Pork Burrito

02/27/2018Leave a comment

When I was 11 years old, my role in the kitchen changed. I was promoted from dish washer to sous-chef. It was a great day really…I still held the title of head dish washer though, lucky me… oh the pains of being an only child until I was 15.  ( yeah, fifteen) I remember daddy … Continue reading Carolina Collards with Pork and Dumplings

01/09/201801/09/2018Leave a comment

Louisiana Creole cuisine is right up there in my top 5 favorites! There is something about that unmistakable flavor that just shouts comfort! There are dozens of Tomato Gravy recipes, a southern farmhouse tradition really, but this is by far my favorite. I have been working on the recipe for awhile now, mostly in my … Continue reading Creole Tomato Gravy with Grits

09/02/201609/02/20163 Comments

Living on the NC Coast is utopia… but with utopia comes…Hurricanes! We are bracing for Hurricane Hermine ( 2016) It’s gonna weaken a bit by the time it gets here, but 50mph winds are still nothing to take for granted. My prayers are with the people of Florida and the rest of the east coast. … Continue reading Farmhouse Veggie Beef Soup

08/28/201608/30/20161 Comment

I grew up on Biscuits! We had them for breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks. It was a filling little handful of love that didn’t break the bank and stuck to your ribs. ( I think they are still stuck, whew) Granny made these and yeast rolls, which around here we call Light Rolls, all the time … Continue reading Scratch Made Buttermilk Biscuits

08/26/2016Leave a comment

It’s not fall, and it’s not chilly, but I am without a doubt craving those home cooked comfort meals already. I put this on the stove last night and went out to mow the field with the hubbyman. After our showers and after we had cooled down and it was nice and dark out, it … Continue reading Sausage and Rice with Tomatoes

05/17/201604/07/2018Leave a comment

My granny.. that woman could cook anything! She was first and foremost a Southern Cook,  but she was so diverse that she could throw together the most moist meatball I’ve ever had in my life! Here is her recipe.. hope you enjoy! Ingredients The Meatballs One pound ground beef 5 slices of white bead ( … Continue reading Granny’s Meatballs

04/27/201606/30/2021Leave a comment

My favorite pasta sauce, Thanks Granny! 2 Cans Tomato Sauce 1 can Tomato Paste (29 ounce) cans tomato sauce 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil ( use seasonings you like ) 1 pounds ground beef salt and pepper to taste In a large pot mix together garlic, tomato sauce, parsley, sugar … Continue reading Rigatoni with Meat Sauce

That bff of mine talked about her Sausage and Cheese Gnocchi just one too many times and I had to have her recipe today and I had to make it today! Her hubby Dave, well he loves it.. he would probably eat it daily if she made it daily. She made this up in that beautiful head of hers and she has passed it to me… I told her after one bite that I wanted to blog it… she gave me full permission to share this with y’all and as I have been playing with budget friendly meals inside my own head I knew this was a great place to start. This meal cost me …are you ready… $5.75 …I know right!!! It fed us for supper and I have a bowl left for hubbyman to take to work tomorrow.. it is all nestled into his lunchbox as I type.

You can not beat the price and still have leftovers!! I am so happy to start these recipes for you … most of my meals are NOT expensive, but I think I am going to try my hand at seeing how much flavor I can get with half the money …. wish me luck, no really… I may need it …

You need:

1 pd bulk sausage ( any brand)

1 can premium cheddar sauce

1 pound pre-made gnocchi

1/4 cup milk ( I used half and half because I was out of milk… yeah I know)

chives ( optional )

1/4 tsp each cumin, taco seasoning, and six pepper blend ( optional )

black pepper to taste – I do not add salt, the cheese has more than enough

I already had the cream and seasonings, so those were “freebies”

$5.75

Here are Pam’s directions :

Put on a pot of water to heat the gnocchi. Bring to a hard simmer.
Cook sausage until browned and crumbled. Drain well.

Add the cheese and the milk to make it thinner and creamier, stir well.

Add the gnocchi to the pot of water and cook for 2 minutes to soften. Then add to the sausage and cheese mixture and fold in the seasonings gently.

The seasonings were my own addition, Pam uses Cumin, chili powder and garlic powder to taste, I used the ones I posted above.. the possibilities are endless!! Stir well and serve immediately. Top with chives, if using! Enjoy!!

15 minutes from start to finish!!

Love you Pammy Dawn!

This cheese would be good on cardboard! IT IS AUH-MAZING!!!!

I grew up on Biscuits! We had them for breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks. It was a filling little handful of love that didn’t break the bank and stuck to your ribs. ( I think they are still stuck, whew) Granny made these and yeast rolls, which around here we call Light Rolls, all the time … Continue reading Scratch Made Buttermilk Biscuits

05/09/201605/09/2016Leave a comment

Ole! I am a Mexican Food Nut! I love everything from South of the Border! I love the authentic recipes and those that are consider Mexican-American. The hubbyman made Chipotle Pork Ribs on the grill for me today ( Happy Mother’s Day) so, I made this rice to go with it… it was fast and easy! … Continue reading Avocado Cilantro Lime Rice

There are a lot of comfort foods out there that we all say is the best. Honestly I love them all. Chili is in the top five and it doesn’t matter how you cook it… Red chili, green chili, white chili, hamburger or hunks of beef…. it is all good to me… I learned how to make this chili in Colorado… it is made with hunks of sirloin and no beans…. what no beans? The first time I had it I actually asked where the beans were, I learned that in real “cowboy chili” it is beef based and has no beans … Ok, I can live with that… it is exquisite!! I thought for years that chili had to be complex and with so many ingredients…boy was I wrong! I still love the think and chunky chili, loaded with veggies and all the accompaniments, but I will take simplicity any day!!

Hubbyman® Approved

 Ingredients:

3 pounds boneless sirloin, cut into bite sized pieces

3 cans diced tomatoes drained

15-20 fire roasted red peppers, drained and diced

1 large onion diced

4 cups beef broth

1 cup water

4 cloves fresh minced garlic

1 tablespoon each: cumin, six pepper seasoning by Tones®, smoked paprika, Badia® complete seasoning, dried parsley

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1 tsp each of : black pepper, salt OR to taste

1/4 cup water with 1 heaping tablespoon corn starch

grated cheese for serving

Diced sirloin into bite sized pieces

Add to a large, heavy dutch oven with the onion and a bit of oil and cook on med high until lightly browned.

While the meat and onions are browning, prepare your seasonings.

Add the beef broth and water to the lightly cooked meat and onion mix.

Diced the red peppers and add to the beef mix, stir well and reduce heat to med.

Add the seasonings, garlic and stir well. Cook on medium heat for 1 1/2  hours with the lid only halfway on, stir often.

After the 1 1/2 hours mark, stir in the cornstarch slurry. Completely cover the dutch oven and reduce heat to low. Cook on low, stirring very often for 2 hours.

I serve it with the hottest cheese I can find, it’s just how we roll… but any grated cheese will work just fine.

Topping Ideas: Sour Cream, Cilantro Leaves, Cheeses, Diced White Onion or Green

Serve with: Cornbread, cracker, cinnamon rolls ( yup cinnamon rolls) or just by itself.

06/16/201606/16/2016Leave a comment

Hello, my name is Katt, and I am addicted to these shakes. I just can not help myself. They keep me full until lunch and I am a much happier person ( okay, I was happy before too) Each morning I will be making a new one.. so start your day with me! ( that … Continue reading Wake Up Shake ( recipe #2) Chocolate-Peanut Butter

Berries Berries everywhere!! I love to catch berries on sale, or see an abundance at the Farmer’s Market that just need to come home with me… but sometimes life gets hectic and we forget that we have a fridge full.. so I made this last night before bed and got it into the fridge to chill… It’s easy and refreshing …

Easy No Bake Cheesecake, which is my favorite!

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, room temp

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust 6oz

Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Whisk in COOL WHIP.

Spoon into crust.

Top with berries of choice ( I used: blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries) and arrange then in any pattern.. or you can toss them on and have a more rustic pie!

Chill for at least 4 hours.

Enjoy!