Cauliflower Beef and Bacon Casserole

Hi all!  It has been 9 long months since I last posted.  The aftermath of the fire was just too time consuming and too traumatic to think about blogging and I appreciate the many kind words, prayers and gifts that were offered to my family.  We are so very grateful for all of you.  Our faith, our family and our friends have been what has sustained us these last months.  It will be quite a while before we will be back in our home again, so we appreciate your continued prayers.  God has blessed us abundantly, not only with those three "Fs" I mentioned above, but with a second chance on life that none of us have taken lightly.  The magnitude of that, truly, is sometimes too overwhelming to even ponder....

That being said, what better way to try to return to the blog than with a delicious recipe that I tried tonight.  To have my 18 year old son say that it was "amazing" was the proverbial icing on the cake that made me decide to share it with you all. (and it is low-carb, too!!!!)

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Cauliflower Beef and Bacon Casserole (thanks to Debi Kircher for the recipe!)

Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped (or 2 pounds frozen)
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
8 slices of bacon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Cook bacon and set aside.  Brown beef.  Add seasoning, sour cream and cream cheese.  Heat, stirring until well blended.

Cook cauliflower until soft.  Drain.  Add cauliflower and crumbled bacon to the beef mixture and pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Top with cheddar cheese and bake covered for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!!!

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Blessings for the Boyle Family

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Dear Friends,

Some of you might have heard, the Boyle family has suffered a tragedy. Their home caught fire this past week and all was lost. They also lost their beloved family cat. Yet, they are thankful for God's protection as they all escaped without injury!!

Although this is a terribly difficult time for them, friends and family are rallying behind them. Local friends are arranging food and helping with clothing. There is a Facebook group where you can stay informed and help.

Please go to Facebook group (private) - Blessings for the Boyle Family and request to join. 

Homeowner's Insurance will help them rebuild their lovely home, but they will have to replace almost everything. The fire was really a total loss. If you can help with emergency expenses for this precious Christian homeschool family - go to the GoFundMe campaign HERE to donate. 

With insistence from friends, Lisa has an Amazon wishlist for household items needed. You can see the list HERE.

If you want to shop using Lisa's Amazon affiliate link - it is on the sidebar ad or you can go HERE (every little bit counts in a situation like this)! 

The family is greatly appreciative of your support and your prayers! Lisa wants her readers and friends in "blog world" to know that she will be back blogging as soon as she can. 

Keep them in your prayers as we continually thank God for their safety. 

Thank you for Blessing the Boyle Family, 

Kelli Becton 

Z is for Zebra Brownies

Wow, we have made it to the end of the alphabet!  :-)  Hope you have enjoyed reading a recipe a day for the month of April.

Today, for Z is my daughter's Zebra Brownies.

Zebra Brownies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

In a large bowl, cream the butter and the brown suugar; beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder until well mixed (mix in one at a time).

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or over low heat on the stove. Place half of the batter in a small bowl and mix in chocolate chips. Spread evenly in a greased 9" x 9" baking pan. Drop by tablespoons of a butter knife through the batter to create zebra stripes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.. Bake for 25-30 minutes.(kiddo #4 did 2 minutes longer until a toothpick came out clean) Let them cool for 3-5 minutes then cut them into squares. 

  

Note: These freeze well if wrapped tightly.

 Enjoy!!!

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Y is for Microwave *Y*ellow Cake

Wow, we are almost there!  Today is Day #25- the letter Y!  I am sharing our Microwave Yellow Cake today.

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup milk

Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  In a mixer bowl, beat butter for 1/2 minute.  Add sugar and vanilla.  Beat until fluffy.  Add egg.  Beat until combined.  Add flour mixture and milk alternately to beaten mixture, beating well.  Cut a piece of wax paper to fit bottom of microwave-safe pan/dish. Pour cake batter on top of wax paper.  Cook cake uncovered on 50% power for 10 minutes.  If not done, cook on 100% power for 30 seconds to 2 minutes or until the surface is nearly dry.  Cool cake on wire rack for 5 minutes.  To loosen, run a narrow metal spatula around dish edges and slightly under wax paper.  Frost with your favorite homemade frosting.  :-)

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X marks the spot: Buried Treasure cookies

Here is another oldie but goodie-- Buried Treasure cookies-- there is a treat hiding inside each one!  :-)

We got the recipe from a book called "Mr. Food's Favorite Cookies."  Can you believe I picked it up at the used book store at the library for $1?

Buried Treasures
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Foil-wrapped milk chocolate candies, unwrapped (we used Hershey's Kisses)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and the brown sugar until light and fluffy.

She looks so little here.  Can't believe she'll be a teenager in a few months!  :-)

Add the egg and vanilla and beat well. 

Form the dough into 1-inch balls; press a candy piece into each ball, covering the candy completely with dough. 

Roll the balls in granulated sugar and place on the cookie sheet. 

Bake for 12 minutes or until light golden.

These are SO good.  They always disappear in a matter of minutes here.  :-)

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W is for Whole Wheat Brownies

Welcome to Day #23- the letter W.  We are almost there!  This has been quite the challenge.  :-)

Today, I am sharing an oldie, but goodie, Kiddo #4's Whole Wheat Brownies.  Look how little she looked just a few years back!

Whole Wheat Brownies (adapted from Sesame Street Yummy Cookies cookbook)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease an 8-inch square pan.  Stir the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl.  Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.  Add the sugar; stir for 4 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cocoa.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla until well blended.

Stir in the flour mixture until blended.  

Stir in the chocolate chips.  Spread the batter in the pan.  

Bake for 16-20 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

Enjoy! (we certainly did!)

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V is for Valentine's Day cookies

Welcome to day 22- the letter V!  I am sharing my kids' Valentine's Day cookies!

1 cup butter softened
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla (I usually put a little bit more)  :-)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour (one cup at a time) mixing after addition. The dough will be very stiff, blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately twelve inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on cookie sheet on top rack of oven for six to seven minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

Hope you enjoy!  They can be made into any shape you like!  :-)

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