Sausage Dirty Rice

If you live anywhere in the south, you have probably had or seen Bojangles. I LOVE Bojangles chicken. Little bit spicywith just the right amount of heat to it. French fries have a seasoning salt on them that can make your mouth water just looking at them. They also have a southern favorite called Dirty Rice. It's a mix of rice, sausage and other small(very small) amounts of vegetables. My oldest, Kyle, will actually eat the Dirty Rice and NOT pick out the veggies!!!!!! I made this once and that was all it took. It was a KEEPER!!!!!!!

Sausage Dirty Rice

1 package of your favorite sausage (mild or hot) just remember who is eating it.
1 package of Knolls Vegetable soup mix
2 cups of instant white or brown rice
2 cups of water
1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Bring water to a boil. Once it is boiling, add the soup mix and make sure it is dissolved in the water. Add rice and put a lid on it. Take it off the heat and allow to cook. Brown sausage in a large skillet. Break it up as much as possible while browning. Once finished, drain off the fat in the pan. Toss rice with a fork and add to the skillet with the sausage. Combine and heat all the way through. If you have a small amount of water left in the bottom of the rice, that will evaporate when you add to the skillet with the sausage.
You can serve immediately or you can refrigerate over night. The longer it sits, the better it is.
Great for Mass Cooking.
Great for Breakfast with eggs and toast
Great for dinner with a side salad.
Great all alone.

Let me know what you think.

Laboring and Cooking with You,
Doula Mama Pam

Chicken Pie Made-Easy!!!!!

This is one of my favorite from my childhood. My Mom would make this and it seemed we always had green peas or a salad and bread with it. I have even toyed with the idea of putting green peas in it......but hubby would for sure NOT eat that!!!!!
This is also a really good one that does well for Mass Cooking. Couple of changes at the bottom and it's GREAT!!!!! Let's get it started.

Chicken Pie Made Easy

1 can of Cream of Chicken or Mushroom
1 8oz container of Sour Cream (Reduced Fat or Fat Free)
2 Cooked Chicken breast, chopped. (Boiled, roasted, canned)
1/2 Sleeve of Ritz Crackers-crushed
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, mix together soup, sour cream, chicken, salt and pepper to taste. Mixture will be thick. Place mixture in a oven safe 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Sprinkle crumbs over the top and place in the oven to bake for approx. 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling.

--Mass Cooking Option--
**Combine ingredients, place in baking dish and cook when you are ready. Remember-if your dish is cold, DO NOT put it into a hot oven.
**Cook dish as directed. It reheats well in the microwave. The topping is not as crunchy but it is still wonderful.
**You can also double or even triple this if you are going to be feeding a large family or taking it to someones home.

Laboring and Cooking With You,
Doula Mama
PS- Do you have a favorite? Send it to me and I'll be happy to get it posted for you!!!!!!

Italian Meatball Sub

This is for sure a Mass Cooking Idea!!!!!!

Italian Meatball Sub

1 package of ground turkey (you can use beef if you prefer)
1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce
1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning or Pizza Seasoning
1 egg
1/2 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
Salt and Pepper
2 cloves of garlic minced or pressed.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In a large mixing bowl add turkey, seasoning, salt, pepper, egg, bread crumbs, garlic and 1/2 cup of marinara sauce. Now you MUST use your hands and mix well. I use a medium cookie scoop to make the meatballs. You can use whatever you have available. Just make sure they are all the same size. Place meatballs on cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. Once they are browned, remove them from the oven. In a 9x9 dish, place the meatballs. Cover with the marinara sauce and return to the oven, uncovered, for another 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbling.
Options-
*Once cooled, place in refrig. and eat whatever day you have chosen.
*Freeze well for a party- just make the meatballs bite-size.
*Serve immediately

Take a sub roll of your choice. Toast under the broiler until nice and crunchy. Place warm meatballs on crunchy rolls and top with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Place under broiler until melted and slightly browned and ENJOY!!!!!!!!

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!!!!!!

Laboring and Cooking With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Mass Cooking Introduction!!!!!!

Today is a little different. I wanted to share with you what a Great Friend of mine-Ashley and I have started doing. I was doing this a while back but really not "committed" so to speak. It was kind of hap-hazard. Then the New Years Resolution hit me square in the face.
*I am responsible for what my family eats.
*I am responsible for my family's health.
*I am responsible for what we waste our money on eating out.

It was time!!!! Sooooooo I was talking at work with Ashley (the above mentioned Great Friend) and she and her husband are doing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace. After much discussion across the hall back and forth we came up with a plan. I tried it one week and she was going to give it a shot and see what happened. This is probably nothing new to most of you. You have probably seen it on TV, the Internet and even other blogs. Mass Cooking is what I would call it. Basically all we do is plan the week and do all of the "Main Dishes" on Sunday afternoon and then put them in the fridge and all you have to do is heat and eat all week and prepare some type of quick side. You can even be as simple as apple sauce or even the Steamers that you can get now that are ready in 4-6 minutes.
*Dinner at home.
*Dinner around the table
*Dinner you feel good about serving.
*Dinner YOU prepared and know what is in it.
So, here is the plan for what I did the first week.
Sunday Afternoon cooking plan - Ground Turkey was on sale and therefore, I ran with that.
Huge pot of Ground Turkey Chili in the crock pot.
"Hamburger Helper" Cheeseburger Macaroni (I substitute whole wheat pasta for the pasta in the box)
Turkey Cheeseburgers
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Spaghetti Sauce.
BAM!!!!!!
HEAT AND EAT ALL WEEK!!!!! It was AWESOME!!!!!!!
This past week looked like this......
Frozen chicken breast on sale (BOGO Free!!!)
*Baked Spice Chicken for a huge Chicken Salad on Romaine lettuce
*Baked Italian Chicken with pasta and tomato sauce
*Crock pot of Chicken and Rice
*Pulled BBQ Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches (Got a deal at Costco)
BAM!!!!!
Heat and Eat All Week!!!!!!!
This is sooooo VERY easy and VERY COOL!!!!! Not sure what is on the list for next week. How about you? Do you ever cook like this? Have you ever thought about it? I have flipped over it!!!!!!! I am so totally hooked!!!!!!!
PLEASE share your ideas with Ashley and I. We would love to see what you have been cooking lately!!!!!!

Laboring and Cooking With You,
Doula Mama Pam and Ashley

Praline Grahams

Praline Grahams
1 pkg. Graham Crackers
3/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup chopped pecans


Separate each graham cracker into 4 sections. Arrange on a cookie sheet with edges. Place each cracker so that it is touching. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in sugar and pecans. Bring to a boil; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Spread mixture evenly over graham crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool on wax paper.


YUMMY!!!!!! Thank you Jessica. You can link up with Jessica HERE. Keep on the look out. Jessica has more to share!!!!!!

Laboring and Cooking With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Barbecue Meatloaf

Barbecue Meatloaf (great with the faux taters)

1 lb ground round
1/2 cup bbque sauce, divided
1/4 cup chopped onions (finely chopped is best)
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
2 large egg whites
1/4 tsp chili pepper
Oven to 375 degrees. Combine meat with 1/4 c bbque sauce, onions, breadcrumbs, egg whites and chili pepper in a large bowl. Shape mixture into a 7 x 5 loaf. Spread remaining bbque sauce (I add extra to cover all the loaf). Cook until done (approx. 45 mins - depending how you shape it)

Four servings - 277 cals, 39g protein, 10g carbs, 9g fat, trace of fiber(got this recipe from Muscle and Fitness)

Thanks Meg!!!!!!

Faux Taters

Faux taters -
1 steamed head of cauliflower (cut into pieces),
1/4 block cream (light) cheese,
shredded cheese
Natures Seasonings.
Blend in food processor until it looks like mashed potatoes. Taste to see if you need to add more natures seasoning. Keep warm in a 300 degree oven until ready to grub on! Can also add bacon bits - Be sure to garnish with them too!

Meg Rogers

Meg is a great friend of mine. I had the honor of being her Doula when she and her husband, Jason, had their little boy, Cash. I have to give Meg credit. She is the one that named me "Doula Mama". Once I had seen it and she called me that, well, it just stuck. She and her husband have a goat farm. Here is the link to their farm. If you live in the area, go and check it out HERE. I'm not sure if they can ship to you but if you are interested in what they have, by all means, call her or e-mail her.

Can't wait to give this a try!!!!! Thanks Meg!!!!!

Laboring and Cooking With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Oh My Goodness!!!!!!

Its another blog. What in the world was I thinking???? This is going to be sooo much fun!!!! I decided to this off the cuff and share with you what all I do with working full time, being a Birth Doula, a Wife, a Mother, and a Sinner Saved by Grace.
I'm not sure how many times I will be posting. Not sure if it is once a day or once a week. If you have thoughts or ideas, I would love to hear them. Of course, I will post pictures of what I cook.

I want to share what I have learned about cooking, cooking for my family, cooking healthy and nutritious food and yet of course, we will indulge every now and then.

The most fun is going to be getting other readers and bloggers to join in and do a post. I'm thrilled about that!!!!! That will be soooo cool. Love the idea of a Guest Blogger!!!!!!!

Join with me on this journey. It's going to be a blast......and yummy to!!!!!!

In The Kitchen With You,
Doula Mama Pam