Sausage or Ham Soufflé

This is a great breakfast casserole for company. Since you make it the night before, all you have to do is put it in the oven the next morning.

6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 pound cooked sausage or ham
6 slices bread, cubed (can be white or whole wheat)

Beat well (can use an electric mixer, but not necessary): eggs, milk, salt, mustard, and bread. Add cheese and cooked meat - either sausage or ham.

Pour into buttered dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

A basic marinara sauce: (meatless sauce)

I use this sauce over spaghetti noodles for a nice meatless meal. I also use this sauce in several recipes that call for bottled spaghetti sauce - like Eggplant Parmesan, manacotti, etc.

2 cups onions sauteed in small amount of oil
1 large can tomatoes (or about 4 cups peeled) - I cut them with scissors into small pieces
1 340 g. can tomato paste
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar (necessary if you use tomato paste because it keeps the sauce from being bitter)
1 or 2 cups of water as needed
Simmer for an hour.

When cooking the onions, you can also add peppers and mushrooms. If you want to add fresh diced garlic, wait to add it until the onions are almost done - it burns easily.

Spaghetti sauce

When I was in Kenya recently some of the ladies were talking about their attempts to make a good spaghetti sauce. This is the sauce I started making when Bob and I married in 1978. It still works for me. Try it and see if it works for you. We’ve always thought it was yummy. =) I have never been tempted to buy “store bought” sauce.


Linda's spaghetti sauce:
Brown two pounds (1 Kilo) ground beef or turkey with 2 cups onions. Drain well either in a colander or on paper towels.
Add 1 large can tomatoes (or about 4 cups peeled) - I cut them with scissors into small pieces
1 340 g. can tomato paste
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar (necessary if you use tomato paste because it keeps the sauce from being bitter)
1 or 2 cups of water as needed
Simmer for an hour.

Brownies

1/2 cup melted butter
5 tablespoons cocoa
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Melt butter and cocoa together in a saucepan. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in eggs, then sugar (order is important), then flour and baking powder. Bake in a greased 8x8 square pan or in round cake pan for 20 to 25 minutes at 350. It's important not to overbake them. They should be set but not dry in the middle when removed from the oven, so you might want to check them after about 18 minutes or so since each oven cooks differently - plus pans make a difference.

I usually double this and make them in a 9x13 inch pan.

Sausage Gravy and spice mix

This recipe came from Cherry. It's been a family favorite.

Sausage Spice
3 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons sage
1/3 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 1/8 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Mix well. Store in an airtight container. Use 2 Tablespoons of mix to 4 cup meat or 1 Kilo
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Sausage Gravy

2 tablespoons sausage spice
1 kilogram pork mince (ground pork)
1/2 cup flour (white or whole wheat)
4 cups milk

Brown 1 kilo pork mince with 2 tablespoons of sausage spice in a large frying pan. You might need to add a bit of oil or kimbo if the mince is very lean. Once the meat is cooked, stir in 1/2 cup flour. Cook and stir until flour is browned. Next add milk. Cook until thick.

Serve over biscuits, rice or pancakes.

You can use twice the amount of milk for a creamier gravy.

Flour Tortillas

Ester's Tortillas - I got this recipe from Melissa, a friend in Kenya years ago. I recent years I have made them with whole wheat flour. If you use whole wheat, you will have to add extra water.

5 cups flour (plain white or whole wheat or mixture)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup shortening

Mix these ingredients (cutting in shortening like you do in biscuits). Add enough BOILING water to make dough hold together (it will be less than 2 cups). Knead well. Cover dough as you work so that it does not dry out.

Remove golf ball size dough from bowl. Roll into a circle on lightly floured board. Roll thin.

Cook in a dry pan (cast iron works well). The pan should be hot. If the pan is too cool the dough will cook too long and get too dry and crunchy. The dough will begin to bubble up and have dark places on the bottom. Turn over and cook until that side also has dark spots on it.

Cover the done ones with a towel to keep warm and keep in moisture. Store in a plastic bag. Can be frozen (wrap well).

Broccoli Puff

Recipe By: Cindy, Lori's good friend. I've used this recipe for years - both in the US and in Kenya.

10 ounces broccoli florets/stalks
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 egg, beaten

Cook package of broccoli. Cut into bite size pieces.
Mix all other ingredients and fold into broccoli. Pour into small baking dish and cover with dried bread crumbs or top with croutons. Dot with butter if desired. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Can be easily doubled. You can substitute a mixture of vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots work well).
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Notes: see substitute for cream soup in early postings on blog.