Arkansas Breakfast Squares

My friend, Sara, is from Arkansas.  She came to Fort Worth for graduate school at TCU (like all of us cool kids do), and afterward she worked here in town for a few years.  A great job offer came up back in Arkansas, so Sara moved back in September.  We had a going away party, Fort Worth style, at Mellow Mushroom and said our goodbyes.  Of course, we all promised Sara we would come visit as soon as we could.  Afterall, I'd never been to Arkansas, and she was always raving about how great it is.  Shortly after her move, Andy found a crazy good deal on flights out to Little Rock for January, so we started planning our trip.

Zet and Sara at Sara's going away dinner at Mellow Mushroom, September 2010

 A couple of weeks ago, my little sis, Jennifer ("Zet"), Andy, and I all hoped on planes and headed out to see our long-lost friend.  Sara, like me, loves to cook.  As soon we we arrived, Sara was asking what all we wanted to do, where we wanted to go, oh, and do we like chili?  How about breakfast?  A fellow foodie- I never knew it! The first night we were there, Sara made homemade chili.  I'll post the recipe as soon as I make it myself, although I'm sure it isn't going to be quite as amazing as Sara's.  After scarfing the chili, we adventured out to the bars.  I LOVE piano bars, so Sara took us to Little Rock's version of Pete's, Willie D's.  We call this the "Hey can I have my check?" night.  Shout out to the boyfran on that one ;-) .

Zet and me at Willie D's in Little Rock

The next day, we were very lazy.  Well, Zet and I were.  Sara and Andy took off for an eight mile run.  No, thanks, I'll pass-  I voted for big/little bonding time with Zet.  This first morning, Sara made Overnight French Toast.

Andy and me in Little Rock

After Andy and Sara got back from their run, we all went out to have some drinks along the river.  Later that night for dinner, we went to a place called The Ragin' Cajun with Sara and her friend, Brittney.  We had yummy seafood and then went to the dance/bar area where an 80's cover band was playing.  The five of us dominated the dance floor, and I even had the band dedicating Tom Petty songs to me.  Zet and I were taking our DG salute picture, when suddenly we hear, "Are y'all DGs?? My wife, grandma, sister, EVERYONE in my family are DGs! We get the Anchora at my house every month!"  We start looking around trying to figure out who is singing our sorority praises when we realize that it's the lead singer of the band.  Small world!

Zet and me representing Delta Gamma at the Ragin' Cajun

The girls at Ragin Cajun- Brittney, me, Zet, Sara

Go Frogs! Me, Zet, & Sara at Ragin' Cajun

Andy and me, dancing fools, at Ragin' Cajun

The next morning, I woke up to a glorious smell that I knew immediately- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.  My stomach was churning, but whatever was baking in the kitchen smelled amazing.  What came out of the oven was what I'm going to call Breakfast Squares.  I asked Sara for the recipe and she laughed.  "Crescent rolls, cream cheese, and sausage," she said.  That's it? Yep.  Easy, delicious, and filling.  Andy's been begging me to make them since ever since we got back from Arkansas, so this morning I thought I'd give him an early Valentine's present.  Sara's Arkansas Breakfast Squares it was!

Like all of my recipes, you can, of course, use regular full-fat/calorie ingredients, but for those of us who are health conscious, the substitutions are great and still full of flavor.

Arkansas Breakfast Squares
Sara Reynolds, modified by Kate Strickland
Servings: 12
Weight Watchers Points Plus Value: 7

• 2 rolls Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Reduced Fat
• 1 lb sausage (I used Reduced Fat Turkey sausage)
• 8 oz cream cheese, fat free  
• 11x13 pan
• Non-stick cooking spray

1. Set cream cheese out to soften
2. Brown sausage on the stovetop
3. Preheat your oven to temperature indicated on crescent roll package (mine was 375°)
4. Spray pan with cooking spray
5. Unroll one crescent roll package and place in a pan.  Flatten so the whole role is laying flat in the pan.
6. Bake the individual flattened crescent roll sheet in the oven for 4 minutes. (This is because the filling can make the bottom layer soggy).
7. Removed pan from oven.
8. Mix cream cheese into the browned sausage.
9. Layer the cream cheese/browned sausage on top of the flattened crescent roll you just took out of the oven.
10. Unroll the 2nd crescent roll sheet and lay on top of the cream cheese/browned sausage.
11. Bake again according to instructions on the package (Mine was 11-13 mins at 375°)

Cut and serve (maybe to your sweetie tomorrow morning!)
Happy Valentine's Day!!

Arkansas Breakfast Squares

Valentine's Breakfast- Arkansas Breakfast Squares