One Pot Cowboy Casserole

I recently saw this recipe for Crockpot Cowboy Casserole on my friend Kylee's blog. I don't use my crockpot so I knew immediately that I wanted to make this into a one pot stove top meal.



I had no idea this was going to be worth blogging so I didn't take a good photo. D'oh. So you'll just have to trust me that this was delicious. Steve thought it was basically chili, which I usually refuse to make because I just don't love it. But this...so homey and comforting. And easy. So, so easy.

Stovetop Cowboy Casserole
Modified from Kylee Cooks

1 lb ground beef
1 large onion sliced
3 large potatoes, diced
2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. can diced tomatoes, UNdrained
10.5oz can cream of chicken soup
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese grated
handful cilantro, minced

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and leave it alone so it can start to brown. Add the onion and cook until the beef is fully cooked and the onions are translucent.

Add the potatoes, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

After 30 minutes, uncover and allow to simmer for 15 minutes to thicken the sauce. Turn off the heat, sprinkle the cheese on top and cover. Let the cheese melt before serving. Top with cilantro and serve.

Cheese Danish

I'm so glad Kate over at Kate's Recipe Box decided to try her hand at homemade cheese danish. I love them...when they're good. And they rarely are. Most have barely a hint of cheese filling and the filling is tasteless, more texture than flavor. But these are incredible. And so easy thanks to frozen puff pastry dough.



I cut my dough into 8 pieces, which was a good size for us. We all agreed that we didn't need the glaze in the original recipe. I also added a pinch of salt to the cheese filling.

Cheese Danish
As seen on Kate’s Recipe Box
Makes 8-12

1 sheet frozen puff pastry
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Thaw the puff pastry at room temperature for an hour, until it unfolds without breaking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out the puff pastry into roughly a 9 x 13" rectangle. Cut into 8 or 12 even pieces. Lay the pieces on the lined baking sheet.

Using a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, salt, lemon zest, and vanilla. Place about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture on top of each puff pastry, spreading out slightly so you have only a thin band of dough at the edges.

Beat the egg with the water and brush evenly over the puff pastry.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the puff pastry is lightly browned. Let cool to room temperature and serve.