10/1/12 - Cheesy Potatoes & Smoked Sausage

IT’S OCTOBER!!!!!! OMG, who can seriously believe that?!

As shocking as it is, I’m actually really excited about it. Not super excited about WINTER, but this is seriously the best time of year. I’m so ready to welcome fall and experience these next few months. We have a month of fall festivities, birthday parties and Halloween coming up. Thanksgiving and the Holiday season kickoff next month. And then, of course, Christmas galore. The most wonderful time of year. When October hits, my mood just seems to naturally heighten now. I love it!

I did leave work a little early today to do some grocery shopping. Then, I was super excited to get started on my new cooking plan, and started if off with a bang! Christian was off to dinner, drinks and football with his friend from work though, which kind of bummed me out. I guess he isn’t as excited about my new adventure as I am…

Amelia would not eat her dinner for anything. She refused to take a bite. I threatened her with being sent to bed, asking her if she wanted to eat, or wanted to go to bed. I got her to take two good bites, and the third time she looked at me and said “Mom, I’ll just go to bed”. So, I cleaned her off, brought her in the room, sang her our songs and put her to bed. She went right down, no fight, no argument, no fuss. Olivia and I finished dinner, watched a few videos together, and then she was off to bed, ending another day.

Tonight’s dinner was Cheesy Potatoes and Smoked Sausage.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of Idaho Potatoes
• 4 tbsp of Butter
• 4 tbsp Flour
• 2 Cups Milk
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• ½ lb Velveeta
• ½ Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 lb Smoked Sausage (I used a Jennie-O turkey link)
• 1/8 tsp Paprika

Directions:

1. Wash and peel potatoes. Boil until tender, and dice.
2. Brown the sausage until heated and cooked through.
3. Mix the butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper together and heat over medium heat until blended well. Place the potatoes and sausage in a greased casserole dish, and pour the sauce mixture over it.
4. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the mixture, and then the paprika on top of the cheese.
5. Bake at 350° for 35-45 minutes, until golden brown on top.

I really liked this one. I would definitely make it again, it's a good, filling, family-friendly meal.