MIL's Meat & Potato Pie

Step 1

Step 2

Despite being new to this whole mommy role, I've thoroughly enjoyed my role as a wife to Adam and hope to for many MANY years to come. In becoming a wife I certainly found myself reveling in the whole "domestication" process. Not that becoming a wife necessarily means that for all women, but it did for me. All of my creativity and energy became focused on pleasing Adam, but now this includes my son as well. I want to be the best wife and mother I can possibly be each day. At the moment, that's keeping the house clean, having a hot meal (or hot leftovers) on the table each night, and taking care of Caleb. As for tonight, I thought I'd share with you my mother-in-law's meat and potato pie recipe--more commonly known as Shepherd's Pie.

Step 2

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups frozen hashbrowns
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or any cheese you prefer)
•  3/4 cup diced meat (chicken, hamburger--I prefer Jimmy Dean sage sausage: 1 lb cooked)
• 1/4 cupped chopped onion (optional)
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• Parsley flakes (optional)

Step 3

Directions

1.  Put oil in the bottom of a 9" pie plate and add frozen hashbrowns (I like to mix them up thoroughly) -- bake @ 425 for 15 minutes
2. Mix cheddar cheese, meat and onion -- immediately layer on top of cooked hashbrowns
   (I prefer to mix the potatoes with the cheese and sausage rather than layer)
3. Mix milk, eggs, salt, and pepper then pour on top of dish
4. Bake @ 425 for 30 minutes
5. Add parsley flakes (optional--I usually skip this)

   

   Step 3

**I never follow this to a "t"--in fact I always use a bag that contains 2 cups worth of cheese and I usually use a whole bag of hashbrowns that's just over 3 cups. It's good to let everything just overflow with this recipe. Oh and it's a-okay if the hashbrowns aren't frozen. I've used them completely thawed out before and it's worked just as well! When everything's done it'll look like the finished product below. This recipe can be tweaked and you may add vegetables to this dish to follow a more traditional shepherd's pie recipe, but if you fix it like this then I highly recommend adding something green to the side like green beans, broccoli, etc. Enjoy!

Step 4: The End :-)

Mr. Proffitt's Meatloaf

When I was in the 9th grade I had Ms. Stone as my Geometry teacher. I also had Mr. Proffitt for English 9 Honors. These were two of my favorite teachers and what's really neat is that they were dating during my high school years. It was my 11th grade year that Mr. Proffitt proposed and they were married during the summer. I was privileged to be one of the few students invited to their beautiful wedding.

Later, when I was in college, I came back to BHS (neither Mr. or Mrs. Proffitt were teaching there anymore) but I completed some of my practicum hours there with another one of my favorite teacher's Mrs. Holland, whom kept in touch with the Proffitt's. When I graduated college in December 2008, that spring I was filling out applications and sending my resume to any county that had a potential social studies position available. I was just recently engaged when Mr. Proffitt (who then became an assistant principal and was no longer a teacher) called me to say that there was a position available at the middle school where he was working. It so kind and generous of him to remember me and that I needed a job. However, after much prayer, the Lord told me not to take the job. That it wasn't the one for me. Instead, I took a job with Charles City--one I detested, but needed for much growth!!!

After two years at CCHS, I was called about a job back at my alma mater. And this time, Mr. Proffitt would be working there as an AP. I have enjoyed working with him these past two years. He's still as quirky and wired as ever! When Adam and I were married Mrs. Proffitt came to my bridal shower and gave us this recipe. It's taken me over three years, but I finally fixed it and it's absolutely delicious! Check it out:

Meat loaf before

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp. grated onion
• 1/4 tsp season salt
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup 

Directions

•  Combine all ingredients in a bowl, spray bottom of a loaf pan, then put the meatloaf in the pan. It is to be baked at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Optional

• Top loaf with 1 can of tomato soup before baking 
• This dish is great with rice-a-roni, extra fine green beans and rolls

  

  Meat loaf after

Homemade Doughnuts

This is the best thing since sliced bread (not that I was around before it wasn't sliced but you get the idea)! Homemade doughnuts, I don't know why I didn't blog about this before! It's very very simple, too--no need to get out flour, eggs, etc.

Ingredients/Supplies

• Pillsbury buttermilk canned biscuits
• Vegetable oil
• Frying pan
• Fork to turn doughnuts with in frying pan
• Soda cap to cut out doughnuts
• Plate to put doughnuts on
• Powdered sugar (fill in one ziplock bag)
• Brown sugar/cinnamon (fill in one ziplock bag)

 The collage on the right is the order in which this works: open up your buttermilk biscuits, using a cutting board or anything flat, take the top from a soda bottle (I took the top from a vanilla bottle) and you simply punch out the middle like I did, next you fill your frying pan with vegetable oil, put the stove on medium-high heat (watch out for splatters--that stuff hurts) and then you take your cut out doughnuts and put them in the pan, in a matter of a few seconds flip them over, they'll look golden brown. We're you're done (and don't forget the doughnut holes either) grab two ziplock bags. We like our doughnuts with powdered sugar and brown sugar/cinnamon, but you can also use icing mix or any other item you like your doughnuts covered in. Put a doughnut or two in the bag of your choice at a time and then shake it up, take it out and voila! You're very own homemade doughnut! Enjoy!

Mom's Lasagna

I am home today after feeling and being sick all week! At first I just thought I had a sinus infection, however, I decided that if I wasn't better by last night then I'd call in sick today and go to the doctor, which is exactly what I did. It turns out that NO we are not pregnant, NO I do not have strep and YES I have a GI (gastrointestinal infection), so yay, go me! My doctor was gracious enough to write a note for me today, and said if I needed to take tomorrow as well, then to do it. With SOLs right around the corner I need to be at school as much as possible, so I'm trying to make the most of my day at home, by propping my feet up and resting.

I am planning on taking a nap, but decided that before I do, I should update the blog. I am a much better blogger than I previously was, however, I still lack the dedication like some of the more avid bloggers I follow. I think that with summer fast approaching I'll do better! Anywho, one of my favorite recipes to fix for my  husband is my mom's lasagna--she received this recipe from a church cookbook when we lived in Broadway, VA and has altered it throughout the years, and believe me, it's the best around (even beats out some of those real Italian restaurants)!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1/2lb ground beef (Adam and I have switched to ground turkey -- you can use up to 1 lb. if you prefer more meat) 
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 can tomato sauce (12oz or 14oz if you prefer for sauce)
• 2 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 box lasagna noodles 
• 1 large container of cottage cheese (Adam and I actually add about 1 1/2 large containers -- we LOVE cheese!)
• 3 packs of mozzarella cheese slices
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions:

1. In a frying pan, brown ground beef/turkey and drain.
2. In saucepan, add brown ground beef/turkey, tomato soup, 1/2 can water, tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano--simmer on low heat for 30 minutes (be sure to stir every now and again) 
3. While your sauce is simmering, in a large pot, bring about 8-9 cups of water to a boil, add 9 lasagna strips (you can add more if you prefer) and sprinkle around about a teaspoon of salt. Be sure to pre-heat your oven during this time to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 
4. In a 13 x 9 pan, lightly grease bottom with oil or crisco to prevent sticking (I accidentally forgot to do this once and it turned out fine!) and add a layer of noodles (should be about 3), on top of that add a layer of cottage cheese, a layer of the meat sauce, and then mozzarella cheese slices--continue two more times!
5. Bake lasagna for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, when finished, let it stand and cool for at least 15-20 minutes. 
6. Enjoy with a salad and garlic bread!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Courtesy of www.girlscouts.org

Last week one of my students stopped by a little after the bell rang to end the school day and dropped off some much awaited yet much forgotten Girl Scout cookies! These little sweet treats are such a delight for me because growing up, I was a girl scout--I almost reached senior status, but left the troop I was in once I started high school and realized I couldn't cope with a million and one activities, so it was left behind.

Looking back now, I wish I had had the nerve to stick it out and not give up so easily. I know my mom tried to convince me otherwise, but I simply would not budge and chose to leave. If I were smart I would have stayed in it and earned the respect of my peers as well as achieve something many women do not. Anywho, these have always been a special treat for me, and should you see a couple of girl scouts trying to earn some money for their troop and/or earn a badge be sure to help 'em out!

Let's go back to Thanksgiving!

Appetizers

It felt crisp outside today, a little cooler than usual. It reminded me of the feeling of fall and how much I missed it! Because I am such an awesome horrible blogger, and didn't blog much up until this point, I never shared the photos I took during the holidays. Ergo I am correcting my ways! Oh and by the way, sometime in the next few days I'll share with you the uhhhhmazing homemade apple pie I made, but for tonight I'll simply recap my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! Now don't get me wrong, I love Love LOVE Christmas, but there's just something in the simplicity in the gathering of families and food together whilst remembering what we're thankful for that is special to me.

Mom & Adam making Chex Mix

In my family, we always sleep in then start the day with turning on the tube and listening to as well as watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Next, dad will usually get the appetizers ready and we munch on those all day long. Mom and Adam have come to love making their own version of the beloved Chex Mix. Then throughout the day, Mom and I will prepare and make all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings with the addition of a new recipe or two.

Anywho, all of this is to say how wonderful it is to remember what we're thankful for throughout the year, not just at Thanksgiving. Normally these "I'm thankful for" lists go on and on and there's only three things that I wanted to mention today:  (1) how great it is to know the I Am (it is extraordinary to serve the God in whose image we are made of, and in who's power we were created. There is no better realization that without Him my life would be meaningless). (2) I also want to thank my brother for standing up and not looking back after taking the plunge of faith. You're an inspiration to me and I'm proud of you. I am thankful for all the memories we share growing up, even the times we fought and couldn't stand to be around one another. We may be miles apart but you're no more than a thought (or phone call) away! And lastly (3) I'm thankful the Lord has placed me where he has at Charles City. I seem to have forgotten the opportunity I have to share who the Lord is and to be a positive light to my students. So I'm thankful for being pushed out of my comfort zone and strengthening me through the experiences I have had there! I'm not quite where I should be, but I'm much farther and better off than where I once was!

So in return what are you thankful for? What have you forgotten to remember and praise the Lord about since Thanksgiving? (Please feel free to share!)

Banana Nut Bread

Lately I had a hankering for banana nut bread! Yum! So I went to my handy dandy and most cherished cook book - Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book, the red plaid cover. If you yourself have been fortunate enough to this book then you'll be even more delighted that you're just a few pages away from sheer joy. If you open to the Bread section, you'll notice the Favorite Banana Bread recipe on page 130. This is the recipe I used for my banana nut bread.

I realize that not everyone may have this cookbook so I'll share with you this particular recipe:
Prep Time: 25 minutes        Bake Time: 55 minutes
Oven Setting: 350 degrees Fahrenheit  
Makes: 1 loaf (16 slices)
Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (5 medium)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine



Lumpy Banana Nut Bread Batter

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Steps:

1.  Preheat the over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside. 
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, mashed bananas, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just enough until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in walnuts. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan. (See photo)
3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center come out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. Wrap, store overnight before slicing. 

Yeah I didn't follow that last part. As soon as it cooled down from the oven, I sliced and lathered on with butter a piece for me and a piece for my father-in-law. Wholly goodness. Yum. Try it!