Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Cheesy Mac 'N' Bangers Bake


Wanna know what my New Year's resolution is?  It's not your average run-of-the-mill resolution.  It's really simple.  In fact, I can sum it up in one word: NO!  This year I promised myself that I would learn how to say "no."  So far it's working out great.  I've been walking around saying "no" like I'm a toddler.  You'd think I just learned the word.  

Will you help us out at the school?  No.   
Will you help us throw together a bake sale?  No. 
Can you stop what you're doing and get me whatever I want?  No.  
Can you watch my kids for the day while I go to work? No.   
Do you want to buy some girl scout cookies?  No.   
I don't like spinach.  Can I have something else for dinner? No. 

You get the picture, right?  Basically I've been a yes person for my entire life.  I've always tried to be polite and please others, watch my p's and q's if you will.  All of that is over now.  

As you can imagine my new plan is meeting some resistance.  I'm getting a lot of strange looks and raised eyebrows. My husband even suggested I change my blog from Stirring the Pot to Stirring the Cauldron.  I had to laugh out loud when he made that suggestion. It was pretty funny. But I'm still sticking to my guns.  This will be one resolution that I keep.  There is going to be a new version of Kim, raw and uncut.  I don't think people know what's in store for them.

So, I'm making no apologies for this macaroni and cheese.  It's total comfort food.  A layer of sausage (aka bangers), a layer of spinach strata, and a creamy mac and cheese base.  It's not diet food in any way, shape, or form.  It's loaded with sausage, cheese, cream, 6 eggs, pasta and bread, and then some more cheese for good measure.  It's the kind of thing you make when you want to say the hell with it.  Now who wants to join me?


Cheesy Mac 'N' Bangers Bake
Adapted from Everyday Jan/Feb 2012
Serves 4 or 6

1/2 lb elbow macaroni
1 lb irish bangers or sweet italian sausages, casings removed
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 lb. thawed frozen chopped spinach, squeezed dry
4 oz. cream cheese, at room temp
salt and pepper
6 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated parmesan 
6 slices white sandwich bread, crusts trimmed

In a large saucepan of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni, stirring often, until al dente.  Drain and let cool; do not rinse.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally until crumbly, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to paper towels to drain.  Melt the butter in the pan, then add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 3 minutes.  Stir in the cream cheese until blended; season with salt and pepper.  Let cool.

In a large bowl, using a fork, beat together the eggs, heavy cream, 2/3 cup parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

In a 9-inch square baking dish, evenly layer the macaroni and cover with the bread slices.  Top with the spinach mixture in an even layer, then the sausage.  Pour the egg mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup parmesan (cover and refrigerate overnight if desired).  

Let the casserole stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour.  Preheat the oven to 375F and bake until browned and crusty on top and set in the center, about 20 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes before cutting.
Do I have to tell you that we liked it?

43 comments:

  1. Me! Me! I'll join you :D And HHHHAAAA- Stirring the Cauldron- that's great! You know, I've been teaching myself to say NO recently, as well. Good for you.

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  2. Oh, yumm-mmm. I am writing down the ingredients and shopping for them tomorrow. (Thank you for defining bangers.)

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  3. That's one of my favorite words...although I disguise it in different ways..hehe :) I think you're gonna like it. I'm loving the new blog name too, but not as much as this yummy cheesy mac!

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  4. In my dreams (trying to get off the pounds I lost then gained then lost then gained...you get the picture). Learning to say "NO" judiciously is the only way you'll survive with your wits intact. Good for you, Kim.

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  5. Learning to say "no" is an art and I totally embrace it...It's a liberating experience. Cheers to you!

    This comfort dish...Delicious. I am so there enjoying it with you.
    Velva

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  6. You go girlfriend! More women need to do that! There was a book years ago about learning to say no which I read and took seriously...been doing it for years now. I have other issues like setting boundaries with people and enforcing them! You might run into this AFTER you start saying "NO!"LOL!
    The dish looks fabulously delicious but I have learned to not look at your blog until AFTER I've eaten otherwise I start drooling and at my age people take that the wrong way if you get my drift? Thanks so much for all these wonderful recipes! LOVE!!!!!

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  7. Oh that looks fantabulous!! YUMM!

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  8. It's all about the boundries! Stick with it! It will feel like you are missing something after saying "no" to so many things, but then you will start to feel free (and happy)!! This dish looks so scrumptious! YUM!

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  9. I just have to say that I love you. Like really seriously love you. You can't say no to that.

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  10. Oh gosh. I think I'm going to go into a macaroni coma. I need this in my life.

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  11. You go girl! I am one that says yes to things that I don't particularly want to. I will have to work on saying NO more often. However, I will be saying a huge heck YES to this. No it's not healthy and it would probably make Paula Dean proud but who cares, it looks darn right delicious!

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  13. You go girlfriend!!! I agree with you 100%. I'm saying no more, not caring, and loving it! And this dish looks freakin' AMAZING!!!! This is definitely a Brenda dish. Yum!

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  15. Well I gotta tell ya, Kim. I wouldn't say no to this hearty dish. This cold weather requires a good solid dinner and you excelled here.

    I get the No thing too. Don't let people take over your life when they don't deserve it :-)

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  17. I need to get better at saying no. I let people walk all over me sometimes just because I tend to be more concerned with making others happy than myself - because I am convinced that if I can make the people around me happy then I will be. It's a good thought, but doesn't always work out in the real world.

    But I wouldn't say no to this casserole ;-)

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  18. This looks delicious! I'll have to make a few dietary changes but I bet it will still taste fantastic!

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  19. "No" is under-used once we become adults. Stick to your guns. One person doesn't need to do it all. And wow - how to comfort oneself. This meal is the best way to stay warm in January.

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  20. "Do I have to tell you that we liked it?"
    A Resounding...
    Nooooom you don't have to!
    :D
    Got carried away with your NY reso
    Stirring the Cauldron sounds intensely funny
    A fun pun :)
    In instances when I have to say NO, I say it with a smile to affix charity to it :)
    altho at times No with a smile does not apply

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  21. No--what's that? I could learn a thing or two from you. Stir that cauldron, my friend! And have a great time doing it ;-)

    No apologies needed for this dish. It has spinach in it.

    By the way, I meant to comment on your best of 2011 post, but got distracted with a "mom...come see!" Loved looking at your top picks.

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  22. Will you send some to me? Please? Will you throw in a gazillion dollars while you're at it?

    haha! I was just giving you an opportunity to practice your new found naysaying skills.

    Seriously, you're awesome and don't be surprised if I come to you looking for help on my own macaroni making - saying no tutorial!

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  23. I love your resolution! Stick to it! Just say NO! The recipe looks great, too, but I am just saying NO to heavy cream for about a month.

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  24. but I don't want to say NO to this dish......wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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  25. Wow, I find that I can't say no to this dish. The pictures alone make me hungry. i am definitely going to try this - lets hope it comes out at least looking like your pics.

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  26. high five!! gosh, i need to take lessons from you! not too long ago a friend of mine informed me that i needed to learn to say no. it's tough, but necessary, especially when the world finds out that you are a yes person.

    i'll happily say yes to this dish though, my goodness, how yummy does that look!

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  28. That looks incredible. I love anything made with sausage. yum!

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  30. Oh... My... God!!! That looks soooo yum yum awesome! I'm new here. Came over via blog of note. Congrats by the way. :)

    Going to look through some other recipes now so I can torture myself. lol

    Happy New Year!

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  32. Happy New Year, Kim.
    When I had my 3rd baby, the word No became necessary for survival.
    Of course the Mac N Cheese looks incredible, so I'll save myself the trouble and say yes.

    Mimi

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  33. What a fabulous recipe! Love all the ingredients and there probably wouldn't be anything left for a photo if I'd served it here! :)
    Listen...good luck with the "NO", Kim. I always tried but am such a sucker. And when friends ask, what can you do??

    Happy New Year!

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  34. I need to learn to say more too. I wouldn't say no to this cheesy deliciousness though!

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  35. This looks amazing. Thanks for posting.

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  36. Hi... I'm new here.. but I'm very thankful I have seen your blog!! Thanks for it! I ate an hour ago and now, after all these pics - I'm really hungry!!!

    One question for you, personal one. What have you cooked for Christmas/New Year for your family?

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  37. Would you like to help stop people from clubbing baby seals?

    Would you like to make a dish that has cream, butter, pasta and bacon?

    Would you like Tyler Florence to come make dinner for you?

    I'm not helping with this whole "NO!" thing, am I? ;)

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  38. All that food is making me hungry! Cool blog post!

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  39. You go! No apologies! If I had a big serving of this in front of me right now I know I would inhale it. ;-)

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  40. No! No! No!
    I love it. I am all for sticking to your guns, and your cauldron. ;-)
    Great looking mac and cheese. If Charles saw this, he would probably propose to you. ☺

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  41. OMG. This recipe looks super amazing.

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