A FRIDGE FULL OF FOOD...

Chris's White Trash Shepherd's Pie Lives Again! The Redux

 

Chris gave me the original recipe for this as "tater tot casserole" but we renamed it White Trash Shepherd's Pie. However, that being named, don't dismiss it.  This is quick, comforting food at it's best and the kids will eat the vegetables to get to the tater tots!

Why the redux?  Not only did I substitute more veggies instead of just the green beans from the first go 'round, I played with the meat as well, using ground deer meat (it's not high falutin' venison if the deer is shot by you or yours), sausage, and bacon.  The difference is a good thing, Martha would say.  More nutrition plus more flavor.

Big kisses to my brother, Hal, for sharing the deer meat!

Another thing I like about this dish, besides the down home country goodness, is that it's a pantry dish. Everything you need is in the pantry and the freezer so not only do you not have to run out to buy ingredients, it's perfect for nights when you have no plan, don't want to cook (quick to put together), and just want something that isn't high brow. I know Gene and I can't be the only ones who crave a church basement-type casserole now and then!

Home-Made "Hostess" Cupcakes--Worth Every Minute!

 

Being in charge of our monthly work (night shift) birthday parties, I have way too much fun making up the food themes and cooking. This month was no exception.  The theme I foisted upon my fellow coworkers for February was "White Trash/Trailer Park" where we feasted on Pigs-in-a-Blanket, Sloppy Joes, Cheese-in-a-Can, and junk food like these mock-Hostess-cupcakes. Okay, junk food that's good for you.  Okay, junk food that's not chemical-laden and bad for you.  Yeah, I can live with that definition for these.

Well worth every minute it takes to make them from scratch, they're also simple to decorate even for a novice decorator armed with a pastry bag and two basic tips.  They're even more fun to eat. Of course!

There are three parts:  The Cupcake, The Filling, and The Chocolate Frosting

Birthday and Valentine's Day Rolled into One

 
What a great day today! 

We all know that Valentine's Day was this past Monday. Gene told me Monday that he had a gift for me but it would be late because of a delivering snafu. Hey, we're old and have been married since God was young, so no big.  We had a great dinner with our friends, Corbin and Jenn Monday night and I was a happy girl. I had all but forgotten him mentioning a gift. 

Then today, I had a wonderful French Onion Soup and Salad lunch with my cousin/friend Ann at Jimm's Steakhouse where she gave me my birthday present from a couple of weeks ago.  Not that she had forgotten or anything, it's just that we kept having to reschedule because of the snow storms. 

Not only did Ann give me a basket of my favorite scent of Bath & Body, White Citrus (heavenly), she gave me the funniest, cutest little gift ever, the inside joke being that I'm a Scrabble addict.  It's my favorite board game. So this was perfect!  I'm still smiling. Check this out and look carefully at the box.

 

Happy Valentine's Day: Banana Crepes with Chocolate Sauce

 

                           
 

Perfect for Valentine's at home:  pretty enough to have come from a restaurant and easy enough for anyone to do at home.  Although we'll be eating out tomorrow night with friends Jenn and Corbin, had we stayed home I might have made this.  As it happened, I created it for one of our Dexter dinners this past fall when Aunti and James gathered with us to eat dinner and watch the "D" man every Sunday night.

Later this week I'll be blogging about all the wonderful cooking Gene's been doing for me this week--sooooooo yummy!

Knitting for the NICU: SUPERBOWL!

Are you ready for some football????!!!