A Father's Day Feast

Hello again!  I know, I know, lots of outfit posts.  That would be due to, in part, my new obsession with Polyvore, and the fact that my computer has decided that I don't need wi-fi.  Yeah, not real pleased with my "new" computer right now.  I am alternating between Hubby's computer and the Ipad for all my internet needs.  Thank goodness for a multiple computer household!

In honor of Father's Day, Hubby got to pick what he wanted for dinner.  Filet Mignon, sauteed mushrooms and twice baked potatoes, yummy!  As we were eating this evening he suggested I post this recipe here.  These aren't your normal twice baked potatoes.  I used to make them the old fashioned way - bake the potato, scrape out the inner part, mix up the good stuff, stuff the potatoes, finish baking.  They were great, but took f-o-r-e-v-e-r!  This is more of a short-cut version, but just as tasty!  Hope you try this and enjoy.

Oh, sorry, no pics.  Like I said, Hubby suggested this as we were eating and I didn't think you really wanted a picture of a dish with only about 1/4 of the potatoes left. 

Short Cut Twice Baked Potatoes

1 bag Ore-ida Steam and Mash Russet Potatoes

3/4 stick of butter

3/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded cheddar (or your favorite cheese), more to top

1/2 cup bacon bits

1/2 cup chopped green onion (optional)

Cook potatoes according to package directions.  Once cooked pour potatoes into a casserole dish.  Cut butter into 1 tbsp. slices and even distribute into potatoes, allow to melt.  Using a fork, mash potatoes and butter, allowing some chunks to remain.  Mix in remaining ingredients thoroughly and top with cheese.  Bake at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes, til heated through and cheese is melted.  Serve immediately and enjoy.

Hope all the Dads in your life have had a wonderful Father's Day!

Have a great week!

So Yummy. . . I May Be Addicted

I've been trying to cut down on all the sugary sweet snacks we tend to keep in the house. If the kids realize what we have, they drive me crazy until I give in and give them something. But then, when Mom decides she really, really needs chocolate, that doesn't leave me with many choices. Well, yesterday was that day. I HAD to have some chocolate. It was almost 9:00 on a Sunday night, which meant that my run-out-and-pick-up-something-gooey-and-chocolatey choices were really limited. And, I really didn't feel like baking something because by the time I got it mixed up and baked I would be too tired to even want it anymore. So I did what any good Mom would do - I dug around the pantry behind all the boring stuff until I hit upon the jackpot

Rold Gold Honey Wheat Twists and Nutella. I realize it may not look like much, but together, WOW! And so easy, all I did was take a twist and dip it in the Nutella. It was heavenly, truly the best thing I had ever had (at least at the time, hehe). I have now eaten my way through most of the bag of twists and about half the jar of Nutella and I'm sure gained back part of those 8 pounds I recently lost. But it's all worth it. Mom's happy now! And lucky for me, the kids don't realize that it's sweet and good, looks like it's a treat all for me.

Have a great day

Smores Brownies!

Hi again! I know I said I would be back yesterday with the recipe, but it just didn't happen. Sorry. But I'm sure once you see this you will forgive me.

Here is the cast of characters. Super simple and easy - a brownie mix (with whatever additional ingredients you need for these), graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows.



Make your brownie mix (I use the milk chocolate just because that's what we like, but you can use any kind) and measure out 1/2 into your greased baking pan. Cook this for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.



Right after it comes out of the oven cover with a layer of graham crackers.



Then a layer of chocolate bars.



And a layer of marshmallows.



And finally pour the rest of the brownie mix over all of it.



Cook that for about 15 minutes, again in a 350 degree oven. Let this cool before you cut into it. I know it will be hard to resist, but trust me, eating these too hot is not pretty.



So there you have it. A super easy, super yummy treat that everyone likes. Hope you enjoy!

It's Dinner Time

It's lasagna night here in our little house. I try to cook at least 6 nights a week, although here lately it's been 7 nights. I work pretty hard to make real meals for the crew, but there are definitely nights that end up being fast and easy. At least it saves money to cook and eat at home with a little planning.

I use The Pioneer Woman's lasagna recipe. If you've never read The Pioneer Woman, then stop reading this and go there NOW! Seriously, I feel like she's the best friend I've never met (hehe). Her recipes and step by step instructions with pictures have done wonders for my cooking. My Husband even bought me her cookbook for Christmas, and usually he doesn't even get me a present. That's how much she helped improve my cooking.
I pretty much follow her recipe except I use one pound of lean ground beef and one pound of mild italian sausage. Here it is all put together and ready to cook.

The first time I made this recipe it took me quite a while to cook everything and put it together. I have now gotten it down to about an hour to prepare, assemble and cook my lasagna from start to finish. Still, when you have 3 hungry kids waiting (im)patiently, an hour can seem like an eternity.

"Mom, can't you tell I'm starving here?"
That's my youngest, and boy can he lay on the pitiful when he feels the need.

And there it is, all hot and bubbly and cheesy. This really is a foolproof recipe. Before this, my lasagna adventures had been only partially edible, now my hubby actually asks me to make it. That in itself is enough to tell me. So go visit The Pioneer Woman, make her lasagna, then read her entire site, then cook some more. Have fun!