Grits and Sausage Breakfast

Serves about 6

16 ounces bulk sausage, cooked and crumbled
3 cups water
3/4 cup grits
2 cups cheddar cheese
2/3 cup evaporated milk, or regular milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
2 large eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Boil water in medium pot and slowly stir in grits. Cover; reduce heat to low. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until done. Remove from heat.

Add 1 1/2 cups cheese, milk, and seasonings. Stir until cheese is melted. Add the sausage and eggs; stir well.

Pour into greased 8" square baking dish.

Bake for 1 hour. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 5 or so minutes or until cheese is melted. After removing from the oven, let it set for about 10 minutes before serving.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Makes about 24 muffins

3 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups pumpkin
1 3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.

Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Add dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.

Fill greased muffin cups nearly full. I use a large cookie scoop, which makes it easy and mess-free.

Bake 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.

These are best served warm!

Impossibly Easy Greek Pie

The roasted red peppers make this quiche very tasty.
Makes 6 servings

1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup sliced leeks
half of a 7 ounce jar roasted red bell peppers, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
3/4 cup Bisquick
1 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease 9 inch pie plate.

Combine bacon, leeks, peppers and cheese in pie plate. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Bisquick, eggs, milk, and basil. Pour over combination in pie plate.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set.

Cool at least 5 minutes before cutting.

Captian Lord Mansion Creamy Hash Browns

We stayed at the Captain Lord Mansion of Kennebunkport, Maine this April to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was a comfortable but regal (Federal) bed and breakfast, and we stayed on the third floor. Their breakfast were excellent, and we could smell them as we descended all those stairs in the morning. The friendly Christian cook gave me his recipe for the hash browns he served on Saturday morning.

Serves: 12 - 16

1 (2 lb) bag southern style hash browns, thawed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated cheddar, jack, or mexican cheese
2/3 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can French fried onion rings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients except for the onion rings. Bake in a greased 9 by 13" glass baking dish for 1 hour. Top with the onion rings and bake another 10 minutes.

Serve immediately.