Thursday, July 30, 2009

Porky Top

This is one of those recipes that you can try to shoot from every angle and still won't get a decent picture of. In retrospect, I really should have taken the sausage off the top because it really doesn't look appropriate! :) I'm hoping you'll be able to look past this to try the dish! This casserole is my husband's ultimate comfort food. It's a meal that his grandmother used to make, and his parents after that. If I remember correctly, it's also the first meal he ever made me. The dish uses ingredients that are fairly easy to keep on hand, and it does get put together pretty quickly.

On a sad note, my blogging is about to get a little more limited. My maternity leave is ending and I am about to head back to teaching full time. The idea of leaving my little ones during the day is really difficult for me to even think about. If I didn't have the BEST babysitter in the world, I wouldn't even be able to imagine it. Needless to say, my evening time will be more limited and as much as I love blogging about recipes, I want every spare second to spend with my family. (Once they go to bed-- the grading pen and lesson planning comes out! :) ) I am still hoping to update my blog on the weekends, and check in with my favorite bloggers whenever I have spare time. I hope you guys will be patient with me... I've developed so many incredible foodie friendships and look forward to continuing to share and discover recipes and ideas with all of you.

Porky Top
2 cans tomato soup
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup green pepper, finely diced
Velveeta cheese
Brown and Serve Sausage (I prefer the 'beef' variety-- but you can use any)
2 cups uncooked macaroni

In a saucepan, mix the tomato soup and water over low heat. Mix in the green peppers. Cook the macaroni noodles according to the directions on the box. In an oven-safe bowl, mix the noodles and the tomato soup mixture together. Cut up 1/2 of the box of sausage (into thin slices) and mix in with the noodles and soup. Cut chunks of the velveeta and also mix in with the noodles. The amount of cheese you choose to add varies, depending on taste. We prefer things pretty cheesy here, so we add quite a bit!

Smooth the top of the casserole mixture. Place the other half of the sausages on top in a pinwheel design. Place small slices of cheese in-between each sausage. Bake in a oven preheated to 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Source: Grandma Ellis

14 comments:

  1. I know how you feel about leaving your little ones! I am a teacher as well, and went back when my daughter was 9 months... so hard! With my youngest, Ive taken the last two years off, and have recently decided to take the next year off as well, because I simply can't bear leaving them! Such an incredibly difficult thing to do. Your concern though shows how awesome of a mom you are, and I am sure your little ones have appreciated all the time off you have been able to take, and will be just fine :)

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  2. It is very hard to go back to work after being with those babies, but as long as you trust your sitter than it will make all those times you do spend with the kids mean more. trust me I work everyday and I miss them like crazy.

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  3. Wow, I had no idea you had just had a baby, congrats. Leaving the kids is never easy but I'm sure everything will work out fine.
    I'll still continue to follow you even if you don't post all that often, I love your recipes.

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  4. I hope your transition back to work goes smoothly. :0)

    Your Porky Top recipe sounds yummy!

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  5. It must be difficult to be torn like this.

    I shall continue to follow because I so enjoy visiting with you here and seeing what delicious recipe you are sharing.

    {{Hugs}}

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  6. I think maybe Donna is rubbing off on you and causing some dirty photos :) It about killed me when I had to go to work, but it gets better after the first week. I completely know your feeling.

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  7. Well, I'll miss your frequent posting, but it'll make the weekends that much sweeter :-)

    I love your source, btw.

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  8. I know that feeling of going back to work right after having a baby, not easy! I'm so glad you have a good babysitter and I hope the transition goes smoothly!

    This looks really good, I love the Velveeta!

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  9. Your dish looks wonderful, hahaha Heidi:)
    I will miss you during the week but will look forward to reading/seeing you on the weekend.

    Work, such a major inconvenience. Sending you big hugs!!

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  10. Hey friend! I know that you'll continue to post some delicious recipes on the weekend and I can't wait to see them posted on here.

    Thanks for your wonderfully kind words about your sitter....you know I LOVE your kids as much as my own. Love you all!!! :-) {{hugs}}

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  11. We'll miss you, but you know where you are needed most! :)

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  12. Happy SITS day. My husband has a culinary degree and is always looking for good recipes. We'll definitely have to try some of yours!

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  13. I'll be looking for healthy bread recipes for my bread machine!

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  14. Have made this one two or three times now when the craving hits. Delicious! It is rich so I can't each much at a time, but it is wonderful and comforting. Thanks so much for the recipe.

    I have also added diced red bell peppers and diced onions and it was great.

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