Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Monday, March 31, 2014

Kielbasa Mac & Cheese

What's better than homemade macaroni and cheese? Well, I'll tell you. Macaroni and cheese with a little kielbasa thrown in. Because these are two of our favorite things, I decided to combine them for an awesome dish. So good and so easy. You can bake this is a 9x13 inch baking pan if you want to be fancy, but I left it in my cast iron skillet because, yeah...I'm lazy like that. But you should try this soon! 

Kielbasa Mac & Cheese



1 16-ounce package cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2-inch "coins"
1 8-ounce package elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter ~ divided use
1 small onion ~ chopped
3 tablespoons  flour
2 cups whole milk
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup panko bread crumbs


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet, cook and stir the kielbasa over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned.

Remove the sausage from the skillet, and set aside.

Boil the macaroni until al dente.  Drain.

Melt 5 tablespoons of the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat, then add the chopped onion and saute for about 5 minutes.

Stir in the flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Slowly whisk in the milk stirring constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook over low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Whisk in the cheese and cook until sauce is smooth and hot.

Add the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, and stir to combine.

Stir in the cooked kielbasa.

In a small bowl, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and combine with the panko crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni mixture.

Bake for about 20 minutes until the crumbs are brown and the casserole is bubbling.

Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.
The list of ingredients.
The list of ingredients.


Cook the kielbasa in a large skillet, then remove.
Cook the kielbasa in a large skillet, then remove.


Add 5 T. of the butter and the  onions. Saute for a few minutes.
Add 5 T. of the butter and the onions. 
Saute for a few minutes.


Then add the flour and let it thicken a bit.
Then add the flour and let it thicken a bit.


Then add the milk. Cook and stir until thickened.
Then add the milk. Cook and stir until thickened.


Then add the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to smooth.
Then add the cheese and salt 
and pepper to taste. Stir to smooth.


Pour in the cooked pasta.
Pour in the cooked pasta.


Add the kielbasa. Stir to combine.
Add the kielbasa. Stir to combine.


Mix the melted butter and the panko crumbs.
Mix the melted butter and the panko crumbs.


Sprinkle panko/butter mixture on top and bake for a few minutes.
Sprinkle panko/butter mixture on
top and bake for a few minutes.


Allow to set for about 10 minutes before serving. So good!
Allow to set for about 10 minutes 
before serving. So good!

Friday, March 28, 2014

Green Chili Chicken Pizza...and a $1.00 off COUPON!!!!

You knew it wouldn't be long before I used green chilies on a pizza, didn't you? I took the basic ingredients you'd find in enchiladas and put them on a Thin & Crispy Mama Mary's pizza crust. And can I just say how delicious this is? Lots of time we have leftovers of pizza..which works great for me...but not this time. I kind of wish I'd made two of these...it was THAT good! If you're in any way a fan of Mexican food AND pizza, then you've GOT to try this!

Click HERE to visit Mama Mary's coupon page.

And don't forget to go to MAMA MARY'S FACEBOOK PAGE and give them a big LIKE!! Also, make sure you visit their WEBSITE for more recipes!

Green Chile Chicken Pizza



1 Mama Mary's Pizza Crust
1/2 cup enchilada sauce (or more to taste)1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese ~ divided use
1 chicken breast ~ cooked and shredded
1/2 medium red onion ~ thinly sliced
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
1/2 cup queso fresco (the crumbly cheese that is used on top of enchiladas, tacos, etc.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 


Spread sauce over pizza and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and half of the cheddar.

Top pizza with shredded, cooked chicken, green chilies and the remaining cheddar cheese.

Scatter onions on top.

Sprinkle queso fresco on top of onions.

Bake for 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and pizza is hot.

Let's go!

Let's go!


Spread the enchilada sauce over the crust then sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese and half of the cheddar cheese.
Spread the enchilada sauce over 
the crust then sprinkle on the 
mozzarella cheese and half of the cheddar cheese.


The add the chicken and the green chilies.
The add the chicken and the green chilies.


Next is the rest of the cheddar, the onions and the queso fresca. Bake!
Next is the rest of the cheddar, 
the onions and the queso fresca. Bake!


Enjoy every bite!
Enjoy every bite!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Chicken Noodle Casserole

A good casserole is always welcome, right? This one is reminiscent of chicken noodle soup. We loved it and the leftovers were great. It's makes a nice sized casserole if you have a larger family or need to take a dish to a pot luck or something. If you want to make it and don't need or want a large amount, then just put half of it in a baking pan to freeze for later. We always enjoy having a little something to pull out of the freezer for a quick dinner, don't we?

Chicken Noodle Casserole



4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup butter ~ melted
8 ounces egg noodles
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
1 10-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 10-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup crumbled buttery round crackers 

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Season chicken with salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 - 45 minutes until done. Set aside to cool.

Cook noodles until they are al dente.

Dice chicken and mix with noodles and veggies.

In a medium bowl, mix together the soups and the sour cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Combine the soup mixture with the chicken mixture.

Pour into a 2 quart baking dish.

Melt butter in a the microwave in a small bowl. Stir in cracker and Panko crumbs. Top casserole with mixture.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until heated through and golden brown.
Here's what you need.
Here's what you need.


Season your chicken then bake until done.
Season your chicken then bake until done.


Mix the soups and sour cream.
Mix the soups and sour cream.


Boil the noodles.
Boil the noodles.


Combine the pasta, cooked chicken and veggies.
Combine the pasta, cooked, diced 
chicken and veggies.


Add the soup mixture and mix well.
Add the soup mixture and mix well.


Mix the melted butter and the crumbs.
Mix the melted butter and the crumbs.


Pour into your prepared pan and sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Bake it up!
Pour into your prepared pan and 
sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Bake it up!


Then enjoy!
Then enjoy!


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

10 Breakfast Recipes

I don't cook breakfast every morning. In fact....I don't cook it most mornings unless it's once in a while on the weekend. But we do love breakfast for dinner around here so that counts, right? Anyway...here are 10 of my favorite breakfast recipes. Give one or two of them a whirl and see what you think.


10 Breakfast Recipes


Here's the LINK to these yummy recipes!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Black Forest Poke Cake

Cherries and chocolate!!! Chocolate and cherries!!! And who doesn't love a good poke cake, right? All this goodness rolled up into one "fan-tab-alicious" dessert. Give this a try sometime. It's a great dessert to take to a potluck or for a big family dinner!

Black Forest Poke Cake



1 Devil's Food cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
1 4-ounce box instant chocolate pudding
2 cups milk
Whipped cream or Cool Whip

Make cake according to box directions for a 9x13 inch pan. Bake according to the directions on the box.

When cake is done and is still hot from the oven, poke holes all over.

Combine instant pudding and milk and pour immediately over cake, making sure pudding gets down in all the holes.

Cover and chill for a several hours or overnight.

Spread cherry pie filling over cake and serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip. 

The line-up.
The line-up.


Make and bake the cake according the box directions for a 9x13 inch cake.
Make and bake the cake according 
the box directions for a 9x13 inch cake.


Right after it's out of the oven poke holes all over the cake.
Right after it's out of the oven 
poke holes all over the cake.


Then combine the milk and pudding and pour immediately over all the holes making sure it gets down in the holes.
Then combine the milk and pudding 
and pour immediately over all the holes 
making sure it gets down in the holes.


Cover and chill for several hours or overnight.
Cover and chill for several hours or overnight.


Then spread the cherry pie filling over the pudding.
Then spread the cherry pie filling over the pudding.


Enjoy with some Cool Whip or whipped cream.
Enjoy with some Cool Whip or whipped cream.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Vegetarian Lasagna

Living with meat lovers makes it difficult to convince them that eating something with no meat is okay. But I was determined that it was going to happen. I know there are some vegetarians who watch this page so I wanted to do something for them. So I made this delicious lasagne and guess what? IT Guy didn't even miss the meat. If I hadn't told him it was meatless, he never would have known. This was SO good and so easy. I opted to use the "no boil" lasagna noodles and jarred sauce. And instead of making one 9x13 pan, I made two smaller pans and froze one for later. This is really so, so good. And if you want to add meat, then by all means, that's an option. But doing it this way....for a lighter meal....delicious!

Vegetarian Lasagna



1 10-ounce package frozen spinach ~ thawed and squeezed dry
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 24-oz jar pasta sauce
9 - 12 oven ready lasagna noodles
1 cup thinly sliced tomatoes
2 zucchini ~ thinly sliced
2 cups mozzarella cheese ~ grated
salt and pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In large bowl, mix ricotta together with the egg. Stir in the spinach, Parmesan, and salt and pepper.

In your baking dish, layer half of marinara, noodles, ricotta mixture, tomatoes, zucchini, and mozzarella.

Repeat with all ingredients. Cover with foil.

Bake 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake another 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

The ingredients. I had some cherry tomatoes that needed to be used but Roma tomatoes would be great.

The ingredients. I had some cherry 
tomatoes that needed to be used but 
Roma tomatoes would be great.


Mix the egg and ricotta.
Mix the egg and ricotta.


The stir in the drained spinach, parmesan, salt and pepper.
The stir in the drained spinach, 
Parmesan, salt and pepper.


Add half the sauce in the bottom of a greased pan.  Then add enough noodles to cover the bottom.
Add half the sauce in the bottom 
of a greased pan. Then add enough 
noodles to cover the bottom.


Then spread on half of the ricotta mixture, half of the tomatoes and half of the zucchini. Then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
Then spread on half of the ricotta 
mixture, half of the tomatoes and 
half of the zucchini. Then sprinkle 
with half of the mozzarella cheese.


Then repeat with the other half of the ingredients. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Then uncover and bake for 20 more minutes.
Then repeat with the other half of 
the ingredients. Cover and bake for 
30 minutes. Then uncover and 
bake for 20 more minutes.


Allow to stand for about 5 minutes before slicing.
Allow to stand for about 5 minutes before slicing.


Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, March 21, 2014

Apple Pie Pizza....and grab a coupon, too!

I've told you before how much IT Guy loves apple pie. So as I was trying to think of a good pizza recipe, I decided to go the dessert route and combine pizza and apple pie! Can I just tell you how much of a winner this turned out to be? I used Mama Mary's Thin and Crispy crust on this and it was perfectly perfect. I diced and peeled my own apples but you could certainly use a canned pie filling...although I highly recommend taking the little bit of extra time and using fresh apples. What a fun dessert! And if you want to get extra fancy....break out the vanilla ice cream!

Here the LINK for the coupon. 

Don't forget to visit Mama Mary's WEBSITE and FACEBOOK PAGE for more recipes!! 

Apple Pie Pizza



1 Mama Mary's Thin & Crispy Pizza Crust
2 1/2 cups diced, peeled apples
6 tablespoons butter ~ divided use
4 tablespoons sugar ~ divided use
1/4 cup flour + 3 tablespoons ~ divided use
1/4 cup brown sugar + 3 tablespoons ~ divided use
2 teaspoons cinnamon ~ divided use
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Caramel Ice cream topping ~ optional but recommended

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

Brush the pizza crust with 1 tablespoon of the butter that has been melted. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon and sprinkle over the crust.

In a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter.

Add the diced apples and allow to cook for 5 minutes. 

In a medium bowl, combine 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon.

Sprinkle over the apples in the pan and cook on medium-low heat for about 5 more minutes.

Spread apple mixture over the crust.

In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of the butter and the pecans. With a pastry cutter, combine ingredients to form a crumble. Spread crumble topping over apples.

Bake pizza for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Drizzle with caramel topping and serve with ice cream, if desired.


The cast of characters.

The cast of characters.


Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet.
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet.


Then add the diced apples and cook for about 5 minutes.
Then add the diced apples 
and cook for about 5 minutes.


Combine the 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon.
Combine the 3 tablespoons flour, 
3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons 
brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon.


Sprinkle over the apples.
Sprinkle over the apples.


Stir and cook another 5 minutes.
Stir and cook another 5 minutes.


Brush the pizza crust with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and sprinkle with a mixture of 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Brush the pizza crust with 1 tablespoon 
of melted butter and sprinkle with a 
 mixture of 1 tablespoon sugar and 
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.


Spread the cooked apples on top.
Spread the cooked apples on top.


In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of the butter and the pecans. With a pastry cutter, combine ingredients to form a crumble.
In a small bowl, combine the 1/4 
cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 
teaspoon of the cinnamon, 2 tablespoons 
of the butter and the pecans. With a 
pastry cutter, combine ingredients to form a crumble.


Spread crumble topping over the apples.
Spread crumble topping over the apples.


Bake for about 10 - 15 minutes. Drizzle with caramel topping then eat!
Bake for about 10 - 15 minutes. 
Drizzle with caramel topping then eat!