All- Purpose Baking Mix and Sausage Cheese Balls

Seeing as how I am from the south, sausage cheese balls always seem to be a big deal at parties and gatherings. (I have always felt these were way too greasy and never ate them at parties) However, I am going to quickly and easily make them from THRIVE ingredients for a demonstration I am doing soon and thought I would share the recipe. These have a lot less fat and therefore are not as greasy as the traditional ones. Enjoy.

First, always make sure you have an all-purpose baking mix on hand. (Store it in an airtight container in your pantry) Most only last 2 months because they contain shortening, but with Thrive Shortening powder, ours will last 1 year!

All-Purpose Baking Mix
6 cups Thrive flour (I use either wheat or a blend of 1/2 wheat and white)
3 Tbsp Thrive baking powder
1 Tbsp Thrive salt
1 cup Thrive shortening powder
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Keeps for 1 year.
*When using this baking mix in place of Bisquick or other baking mixes listed in recipes you will need to add a little bit more water (1 - 2 tsp) to the recipe, but not much.

Sausage Cheese Balls (makes 15 - 20 balls - can be multiplied)
1 cup Thrive sausage crumbles
1 cup Thrive cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp Thrive onions
1 Tbsp Thrive celery
1 1/2 cups warm water
3/4 to 1 cup all-purpose baking mix (recipe above)
Ground pepper and garlic powder to taste (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place first 5 ingredients in a bowl and allow to sit about 5 - 7 minutes. Then add the baking mix until a thick batter consistency is achieved. Add a little pepper and garlic powder if you wish. Spoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet (these are usually a little less ball like because they don't have all that solid fat to hold them together as the ones made with fresh, raw sausage which is a good thing). Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!

These only take me about 20 - 25 minutes to make (including baking time) and usually I have my sheet pans ready to go in before the oven even finishes preheating.

Tex Mex Casserole

2 cups Thrive elbow macaroni
1/2 cup Thrive ground beef FD
1/2 cup Thrive taco TVP
1/2 cup Thrive corn
1/2 cup Thrive mixed bell peppers
6 cups water
3 Tbsp Thrive tomato powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
2 cups Thrive cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Boil water in large pot. Place macaroni in pot and boil for 7 minutes. Add beef, TVP, corn, and bell peppers to the pot of macaroni and boil another 3 - 4 minutes.
Meanwhile mix tomato powder, garlic, and spices together in a small bowl.
Scoop out 3/4 cup of cooking water and set aside. Drain pasta, meat, and veggies.
Mix reserved cooking water with spices.
Place pasta, spice mixture, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese into a casserole dish and stir together.
Top with remaining cheese and bake for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!