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easy recipes

Easy Sausage Corn Dog Bites

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Well it’s officially Fall. And our schedules aren’t any less busy than they were a few months ago. Heck, at this point, I am certain our schedules will never be less busy. Well, not at least until these kiddos are grown. So for now we will do all of the easy meals. These easy sausage corn dog bites check all of the boxes for our busy (and picky!) family.

Easy Sausage Corn Dog Bites

Why use an air fryer?

The two greatest culinary inventions (well, at least for busy parents) are the Instant Pot and the air fryer. I know some folks will disagree and say that the crockpot or slow cooker reigns supreme, but a slow cooker can’t make dinner in minutes. And that’s why these two cooking gadgets win the prize.

Time is a hot commodity for everyone. I would argue that it’s especially true for parents. Between working, school work, extracurriculars, and whatever else families have going on, they need dinner as quickly as possible.

What you’ll need

My alternate title to this recipe would be “Four Ingredient Kid-Friendly Dinner.” This super easy, super delicious recipe consists of four simple ingredients. All you’ll need is the following:

  • 2 boxes of jiffy cornbread mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 – 13 ounce package of sausage: andouille or kielbasa

That’s it. Easy peasy. And truly an ‘in-a-pinch’ recipe you can throw together on a busy weeknight.

Easy Sausage Corn Dog Bites Recipe

Yield: 12

Sausage Corn Dog Bites

Sausage Corn Dog Bites
Prep Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 boxes of jiffy cornbread mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 - 13 ounce package of sausage: andouille or kielbasa

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the jiffy mix, eggs, and milk. Mix well until the batter is smooth. 

    While the box mix lists 1/3 cup milk per box, I like to add a little extra as it creates a less dense result.  
  2. Slice the sausage into 1” pieces.  
  3. Place each sausage piece into a cupcake liner.
  4. Pour cornbread mix into the liner until sausage is just barely covered.  
  5. Place liners in air fryer basket and cook at 325°f for 10 minutes.  
  6. Remove and let cool before serving.
      
  7. ENJOY!
© Rachel

If you’re looking for more easy recipes, head to my “easy recipes” tab. Kid-approved, mom on a time crunch friendly, and ALL are delicious.

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Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza

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Summer has flown by. Before we know it, Autumn will be here. Truthfully, Autumn has always been my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the turning leaves, and most of all, the delicious apple foods! But this caramel apple air fryer dessert pizza is perfect for any season. It’s crispy, gooey, and oh-so-flavorful!

Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza

Why the air fryer?

As someone who creates a lot of Instant Pot and air fryer meals, I get this question a lot. Honestly, both of these kitchen gadgets have been a game changer for me. Not only are they easy to use, but they create less mess, and a faster cook time. And I know busy parents can relate to that! These gadgets are truly a lifesaver. And that’s why I use the air fryer for this recipe.

Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza

What you’ll need

Listen, this recipe is lengthy. Both as far as ingredients and steps. But I need to tell you — give it a shot. It’s much, much easier than you would expect. With homemade pizza crust, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • warm water
  • sugar
  • dry yeast
  • all-purpose flour
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • cornmeal
Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza

The pizza dough crust ingredients are so simple. The caramelized apples and cream cheese frosting are even more simple. Here’s what else you’ll need to have on hand:

  • salted butter
  • brown sugar
  • water
  • 2 large apples
  • ground cinnamon
  • cream cheese
  • powdered sugar
  • vanilla

Pro tip: The apples you get should be of the tart variety. Tart apple varieties include Pink Lady, McIntosh, and Cortland apples!

Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza Recipe

Yield: 4

Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza

Caramel Apple Air Fryer Dessert Pizza
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 43 minutes

Ingredients

Pizza Dough

  • 1 ½ cups of warm water (110 degrees F)
  • 2 teaspoons of sugar
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons of dry yeast
  • 3 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1/2 cup of cornmeal

Caramelized Apples

  • 2 tablespoons of salted butter
  • ⅓ cup of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of water
  • 2 large apples
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Pizza Assembly

  • Caramelized apples
  • 3 tablespoons of butter softened
  • 1/4 cup of brown sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 ounces of cream cheese softened
  • 6 tablespoons of butter, softened
  • 1 cup of powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla

Instructions

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough

  1. In a large bowl, add your warm water and yeast. Stir and mix. Allow your yeast to proof for about five minutes.
  2. After five minutes, add in your sugar, flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix until fully incorporated. 
  3. If using a stand mixer, knead with the dough hook for about five minutes on medium speed. If using your hands, transfer the dough ball to a lightly floured flat surface and knead for about 10 minutes.
  4. Transfer your dough ball to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a clean towel for 1 hour, or until it's doubled in size.

Caramelizing Onions

  1. Peel and dice the apples into small pieces.

  2. In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium high heat.
  3. When the butter is melted, add the sugar, water, and apples. Stir and cook until the sugar is melted. 3 minutes.
  4. Lower the heat to medium-low and consistently stir while cooking for 8 minutes.
  5. Add the cinnamon and cook/stir for 1 minute.
  6. Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes. Place in a jar and cool for 1 hour. 

Pizza Assembly

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 380°
  2. Once your dough has doubled in size, remove your dough ball to a lightly floured surface.
  3. Divide your ball into 4 sections.
  4. Roll your dough using a rolling pin until it is 8 inches in diameter. 
  5. Dust the air fryer pan with the cornmeal and transfer your pizza dough to your pan. Press to flatten down on the bottom of the pan.
  6. Once your air fryer is heated, cook your dough for 4 minutes. 
  7. In a mixing bowl, add and mix the caramelized apples, 3 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. 

  8. Remove the cooked dough and then top it with 1/4 of the caramel apple sauce from the mixing bowl. Cook for another 4 minutes.
  9. Repeat the steps for each pizza.
  10. While the pizza is cooking, add the frosting ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine.
  11. Once the pizza is cooked and cooled, pipe or drizzle the frosting onto the pizzas.
     
  12. Serve and enjoy! Use any extra frosting as a dipping sauce. 
    © Rachel

    Truly this recipe is so easy. If you’re looking for other Fall recipes, check out these adorable Mummy Jalapeño Poppers!

    PIN FOR LATER

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe

    by 6 Comments

    As we get further into this school year, our mornings have become increasingly chaotic. Between bathing, clothing, and feeding all three kids, we are often barely to school on time. I try to get my kids to eat something — anything! — before school starts. Some days are easier than others. One of the problems we have run into is that my kids just don’t really like traditional Pop Tarts. Enter the Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe. My kids are obsessed! And I think your kids will be, too!

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe

    What You’ll Need

    In my opinion, traditional pop tarts really lack because of the dry pastry crust. Thankfully these unicorn pop tarts do not have that problem. I make these using refrigerated pie crusts, like these Pillsbury crusts. The other trick to creating these delicious, flaky pop tarts, is to use your air fryer. YES! Pop tarts in the air fryer will cook these to perfection.

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe

    Here’s what else you’ll need:

    • 15 ounces of pie crusts (equivalent to 2 crusts), store bought or homemade
    • blue food coloring
    • pink food coloring
    • any flavor of jelly preserves
    • powdered sugar
    • milk
    • an egg
    • a heart cookie cutter
    • and sprinkles!

    Be sure to play around with different jelly preserves, food coloring, and sprinkles!

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe

    Unicorn Pop Tarts

    Unicorn Pop Tart Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 11 minutes
    Total Time 26 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 15 oz of pie crusts (equivalent to 2 crusts), store bought or homemade
    • 3 drops blue food coloring
    • 5 ounces jelly preserves total, any flavor (I used strawberry)
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 TBSP milk (you may add more if you like your icing to be a thinner consistency)
    • 2 drops pink food coloring
    • 1 egg, whisked
    • 4 tablespoons mixture of pink and purple sprinkles
    • 1 heart cookie cutter

    Instructions

    INGREDIENTS -

  1. On one of the heart-shaped crust, take 1 tablespoon of your jelly preserves, and place it in the middle. Spread it out evenly on the heart shape. Make sure to leave room around the edges.
  2. Taking your finger, dip it in the egg wash, and evenly spread the egg wash around the edges surrounding the jelly.
  3. Place another heart shaped pie crust on top of the other heart with the jelly on it. Using a fork press down the edges creating a seal. 
  4. Using a kitchen brush, dip it in the egg wash and top the rest of your heart shape with the egg wash.
  5. Using a fork, or toothpick, poke about 6 to 8 holes in the top of your top layer pastry.
  6. Depending on the size of your air fryer, place as many pastry hearts in your air fryer that will fit without interfering with the shape of the pastry.
  7. Cook your pop tart at 370° for 7 minutes. Once the timer is done, open your air fryer, and flip your pop tarts. Continue to cook at 370° for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is reached a soft brown color.
  8. Remove from the air fryer, and transfer to a cooling rack.
  9. While your pastries are cooling, mix together your powdered sugar, milk, and pink food coloring (you can add more or less depending on the color of food coloring you prefer). You can choose to add more powdered sugar if you like your icing thicker, or more milk if you like your icing thinner. 
  10. Drizzle your icing over your pop tart and add your sprinkles while your frosting is still wet.
  11. Allow them to cool and the frosting to harden, and then enjoy!
    12. © Rachel

    PIN FOR LATER

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    by 6 Comments

    Delicious meals don’t have to be difficult. In fact, they shouldn’t be. Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe is a great way to cook a smaller amount of turkey that turns out perfectly tender and moist in just 45 minutes — without the hassle of the oven.

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    Why use an air fryer?

    As noted above, the primary reason for using an air fryer is that you won’t have to heat up the whole oven. Additionally, the air fryer is just plain ol’ efficient. If you’re still in the market for an air fryer, my two favorites are this one and this one.

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    What You’ll Need

    There are just six simple ingredients with this recipe. You’ll need only the following:

    • 2 pounds turkey breast (with skin)
    • 4 Tablespoons of butter, melted
    • 1 Tablespoon of sea salt
    • 1 Tablespoons of fresh peppercorn, ground well
    • 2 Tablespoon of garlic, minced
    • 4 sprigs thyme, remove from stem

    I would add that the ‘optional’ ingredients would be things to enhance your turkey breast. Whether that be a good turkey gravy or cranberry sauce, you won’t be disappointed!

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    If you are looking for a post-turkey dessert, be sure to check out this Instant Pot Peach Cobbler.

    The Full Recipe

    Yield: 3-4

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast

    Air Fryer Turkey Breast
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds turkey breast (with skin)
    • 4 Tablespoons of butter, melted
    • 1 Tablespoon of sea salt
    • 1 Tablespoons of fresh peppercorn, ground well
    • 2 Tablespoon of garlic, minced
    • 4 sprigs thyme, remove from stem

    Instructions

    INGREDIENTS -

    1. Melt your butter in the microwave or on a double broiler on the stove. 
    2. Once melted, add in the sea salt, peppercorn, garlic, and thyme. Mix.
    3. Using a basting brush, brush your butter mix on the top and bottom of the turkey breast. 
    4. Place the turkey breast in your air fryer. 
    5. Set your Air Fryer to 375 degrees F for 45 minutes. 
    6. At the halfway mark of about 22/23 minutes, flip the breast with tongs. Continue to cook. 
    7. Once the air fryer has finished cooking, cut and serve! 
    8. Top with cranberry sauce, gravy, or eat as is! Enjoy!
    © Rachel

    Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

    by 5 Comments

    Today marks the first day of yet another busy week. We are finally ‘healthy-ish’ again. So I’m back to making regularly scheduled family meals. But we still don’t have a lot of time on our hands between practices and extracurriculars. So we need easy meals. And our newest favorite easy weeknight meal is this Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni.

    Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

    What you’ll need

    We know that one of my favorite kitchen gadgets is my Instant Pot. Between the Instant Pot and the air fryer (okay, and maybe the Vitamix, too!) — that’s all I need!

    As far as ingredients, here’s what the recipe calls for:

    • 1 pound of Ground Sausage
    • 1 teaspoon of Salt
    • 1 teaspoon of Pepper
    • 24 ounces of Pasta Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning
    • 3 cups of Chicken Broth
    • 1/2 cup of Heavy Cream
    • 16 ounces of Rigatoni Noodles
    • 1 1/2 cups of Shredded Parmesan Cheese
    • Fresh Parsley (Garnish)
    • 1 tablespoon of Garlic

    That’s basically it. The fresh parsley is optional, but absolutely delicious.

    IP Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Recipe

    Yield: 4 servings

    Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

    Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni
    Prep Time 3 minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound of Ground Sausage
    • 1 teaspoon of Salt
    • 1 teaspoon of Pepper
    • 24 ounces of Pasta Sauce
    • 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning
    • 3 cups of Chicken Broth
    • 1/2 cup of Heavy Cream
    • 16 ounces of Rigatoni Noodles
    • 1 1/2 cups of Shredded Parmesan Cheese
    • Fresh Parsley (Garnish)
    • 1 tablespoon of Garlic

    Instructions

    INGREDIENTS -

    1. Set Instant Pot to sauté.
    2. When the Instant Pot is hot, brown ground sausage until cooked through.
    3. After ground sausage is cooked, turn off sauté function. Add the broth, pasta sauce, heavy cream, garlic, salt, pepper & Italian seasoning into the instant pot.


    4. Add the rigatoni noodles making sure they are fully submerged into the liquid.
    5. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to seal. Set Manual pressure to 'High' for 6 minutes with quick release.
    6. When all pressure is released, remove lid and stir in the parmesan cheese.

      Garnish with parsley.
    7. ENJOY!
      Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni
    © Rachel

    If you’re looking for other easy recipes, be sure to check these out. There are so many recipes that are weeknight (and family!) friendly.

    PIN FOR LATER

    INSTANT POT CREAMY SAUSAGE RIGATONI RECIPE

    Strawberry Shortcake Adult Milkshake

    by 9 Comments

    Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — I’m not big on Valentine’s Day. But that doesn’t mean I don’t make it super cutesy for my kids with treats and activities. But this year I’m making a conscious effort to reconnect with my husband. Our kids are getting a tiny bit older (at ages 10, 7, and 4). And it’s time to get back to regular-ish date nights. This February our at-home date night is going to include a Strawberry Shortcake adult milkshake — made with Little Debbie strawberry shortcakes!

    Strawberry Shortcake Adult Milkshake

    What you’ll need

    First and foremost, you’re going to need a food processor or a blender. If you have one, or have the funds, I highly, highly recommend the Vitamix. Not only can you use the Vitamix for blending up frozen desserts, but you can use it to make all sorts of other things — like soup!

    Strawberry Shortcake Adult Milkshake

    But here are the must-have ingredients:

    That’s all you’ll need. And I will tell you, these are absolutely addicting. But be sure that you enjoy responsibly!

    HOW TO MAKE A STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE ADULT MILKSHAKE

    Strawberry Shortcake Adult Milkshake

    Strawberry Shortcake Adult Milkshake
    Prep Time 1 minute
    Total Time 1 minute

    Ingredients

    • 2 Scoops of Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll Ice Cream
    • 2 ounces of Baileys Strawberries & Cream
    • 2 ounces of Strawberry Milk
    • 1 Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll
    • Whipped Cream

    Instructions

    1. Place 2 scoops of ice cream, strawberry milk & Baileys into a blender.
    2. Blend for 60 seconds.
    3. Transfer to a glass.
    4. Garnish with whipped cream & a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll.
    5. Enjoy responsibly!
    © Rachel

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