Non-Cookbook Sausage Bake

It isn't much to look at, but it is salty, delicious and possibly my favorite recipe of all time. 

My mother makes this dish once a year, on Christmas morning.  She only makes it once a year because it provides an entire month's worth of sodium in just one convenient serving. 

This recipe was given to us by a college friend of my mom's who is like an aunt to me.  (Hi Kelly!)  It starts off amazing...with two pounds of sausage.  TWO POUNDS.  Because this casserole is not for the faint of heart (or the faint of arteries).   

Oh Jimmy Dean!  You are a wonderful, wonderful man!

While the sausage is browning, you layer in a bag of seasoned croutons in a 9 x 13 pan.  After the sausage is browned, dump that in too.  Next comes a bag-full of yummy cheese!  Any kind will do, but the recipe calls for cheddar!

Next, whisk up 4 eggs, some milk and some dry mustard.  Dump that in next.  The final touch is the sauce, half a cup of milk mixed with a can of cream of mushroom soup, drizzled on the top like salty confetti!  

Bake at 350F for an hour.  (Optional steps: Stare at the kitchen timer obsessively.  Salivate whenever you catch a whiff of that breakfast-y goodness.  Pace around the oven for an hour.)  Then, enjoy!

Despite my mother's attempt to preserve my cardiovascular system by making this once a year, now that I have my hands on the recipe, I decided to make it this week for a few reasons.

1.  It's just plain delicious.  It contains two pounds of sausage.  How could it not be good?

2.  I, like always, was feeling a little bit Christmas-y.  What can I say?  After Halloween is over, I just couldn't help myself!  It was either make Christmas-y food, or put up the tree.  I chose the more socially acceptable of the two.  (Only 50 days to go!)

3.  It was my third year anniversary at work, and my friend Andy and I decided to make a special dinner to celebrate.  As Andy's contribution to the work potlucks mainly consists of soda, it was determined that I would do the cooking, and he would be in charge of drinks and entertainment.  Since he brought the fixings for mimosas AND Disney's Little Mermaid, I'd say he knocked it out of the park.

All in all, a wonderful weekend!  Also, the Disney Blu-Ray came with a special sing-a-long that started whenever we paused the video.  This scene?  "You want to kiss de girl!"

Non-Cookbook Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Full disclosure.  This is not from a cookbook and therefore does not count as one of my 52.  However, since my very first official post was a mitigated failure, I decided to brag a little about these cupcakes, which were magnificent.  

Aren't they cute?  I finally used my fall sprinkles!

I needed something delicious to take to my work's department-wide potluck.  Since the windows were open, the cool air was blowing in and the pumpkin spiced candle was lit, I knew I had to make something fall-ish.  I decided on caramel apple cupcakes.  

I had purchased a Pillsbury caramel apple cake mix and the matching frosting on one of my 12 weekly visits to Target.  

I am convinced this is exactly what happens.

But, as always, I digress.  I made the first batch of cupcakes as directed, but for the second batch, I doctored it up a little by adding cinnamon.  I have no idea how much I put into the batter.  I just dumped it in until it "looks right," also known as Mom's method.  The first batch turned out good, but the second batch was AMAZING.  3 of 3 work taste testers agreed.  Stick with the cinnamon.  

I frosted the cupcakes with the prepared frosting and added fall sprinkles.  All in all, easy and adorable cupcakes.  I just love Pillsbury cake mixes!