🥘 Chicken and Green Chilies Casserole
Hearty, cheesy, and packed with flavor!
Author: auntiemsrecipes
🥘 Shepherd’s Pie
A rich and hearty casserole layered with seasoned lamb, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes. This version is loaded with flavor — including cabbage, leeks, and cheddar — and bakes beautifully golden.
🧀 Homemade Cheese Crackers (Two Ways)
Savory, cheesy, and addictively crisp — these homemade crackers are perfect for parties, snacks, or cheeseboard fillers. Includes a classic version and a sesame-packed throwback from the ’70s.
🧂 Classic Cheese Crackers
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, parmesan, Monterey Jack)
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- ½ tsp garlic powder (or more to taste)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
🍽 Instructions
- Let cheese and butter come to room temperature.
- Mix cheese, butter, paprika, and seasonings.
- Gradually blend in flour using a fork, then hands.
- Form into 1″ diameter logs. Wrap in plastic and chill.
- Slice into ¼” rounds. Bake at 375°F for ~10 minutes.
🧂 Sesame Cheese Crackers (1970s Recipe)
- 4 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 4 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
- 5 tbsp butter, softened
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
🍽 Instructions
- Mix cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add salt, garlic, flour, and toasted sesame seeds.
- Shape into a log with plastic wrap. Chill well.
- Slice into thin rounds. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
🧡 Double these — they vanish fast. Try with soup or wine!
🍞 Monkey Bread (Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes)
Soft, sweet, and irresistible — these pull-apart cinnamon sugar bites are easy to make and even easier to devour. What we used to call “Monkey Bread,” made with simple ingredients and a lot of buttery goodness.
🍟 Tater Tot Poutine
A modern American twist on the Canadian classic — crispy tots smothered in cheese and hot gravy. Simple, hearty, and perfect for solo cravings or quick comfort.
🍄 Steve’s Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Easy, savory, and always a hit at parties. Hot Italian sausage, cheesy goodness, and perfectly baked mushrooms — with Steve’s custom twist for added flavor.
🧂 Ingredients
- 24 large mushrooms (stems removed)
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 oz grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
🍽 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Hollow out mushroom caps, saving the insides.
- Sauté sausage, onion, and mushroom scrapings in skillet until browned.
- Drain fat, then return mixture to pan.
- Add 3 oz Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic, and parsley. Stir until warm and mixed.
- Stuff mixture into each mushroom cap and place on baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake 3 more minutes until bubbly.
📝 Steve’s Notes
“I sauté the onions in butter first, then add the sausage. I also splash wine and butter into the pan before baking — adds depth and keeps mushrooms juicy.”
— Steve, June 1, 2015
🥔 Grandma Elliott’s Potato Salad
A “tried-and-true” potato salad with no exact measurements — just common sense and generations of love. Creamy, vinegary, and heavenly, especially fresh and slightly warm.
🥐 Aunt Roberta’s Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
A comforting, flexible classic that gets even better the next day. Whether you’re using Grands biscuits or homemade, this is breakfast, lunch, or dinner that sticks to the ribs.
🍰 St. Louis-Style Gooey Butter Cake
This gooey, sweet, and buttery classic starts with a yellow cake mix and finishes with cream cheese decadence. Bake it the day before — it gets even better with time.
🧂 Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 (18.25 oz) box yellow cake mix
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Filling:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar (or 3 cups for less sweetness)
🍽 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, combine cake mix, melted butter, vanilla, and eggs. Mix by hand until combined.
- Press crust mixture into a greased 9×13″ pan.
- In another bowl, beat cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla with a mixer until smooth.
- Slowly add confectioners’ sugar while mixing.
- Pour the filling evenly over the crust.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes until lightly golden (don’t overbake — center should be gooey).
- Cool completely before slicing.
💡 Tips from the Family:
- Reduce sugar to 3 cups if preferred
- Bake at 325°F for a softer texture
- Best when made a day ahead
🦀 Crabbies
A retro party favorite that freezes beautifully. These cheesy, crabby English muffin bites are addictive straight from the oven and perfect for holidays or quick snacks.