Holiday Casserole Favorites

I'm not a great cook. I mean...I can cook OK but nothing that will really blow you away therefor I love to make casseroles. What is better than throwing a whole bunch of different ingredients in a bowl together, pouring it in a casserole dish and letting the oven do the rest? Nothing! So as I am sure you are all doing what I have been doing and are preparing your list for some grocery shopping, I wanted to give a few new ideas for some great, easy and quick dishes for the Holidays.

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

This has become one of my new favorite dishes to make. I have made it several times to go along with our supper and it is always a huge hit. This is the newest recipe for me so I will be trying it on everyone outside of my home over Thanksgiving. Super easy and so darn good!

Here is what you will need:
1 Packages Ore Ida Steam n' Mash Cut Russet Potatoes (these are in the freezer section where the fries are and super easy to do.)
2/3 Cup(s) EVAPORATED MILK canned
2 Tablespoon(s) BUTTER
1 Package CREAM CHEESE softened
1/2 Cup(s) SOUR CREAM
2 Teaspoon(s) FRESH CHIVES chopped(I leave this out. Not a chives person)
1/2 Teaspoon(s) SALT
1/2 Teaspoon(s) BLACK PEPPER ground
1/4 Cup(s) CRUMBLED BACON
1 Cup(s) CHEDDAR CHEESE shredded

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Microwave Potatoes according to package instructions. 2. In a large bowl, mix together hot Potatoes, can milk and butter, and mash with a potato masher until smooth. For a smoother consistency, mix with an electric mixer to desired consistency. Add cream cheese, sour cream, chives, salt and pepper, and mix well. Spread evenly into baking dish. Top with bacon crumbles and cheese.3. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.

I'm telling you...you won't regret making this and it will be a huge hit!

Hash brown Casserole
Sorry...I have no picture for this one!

2 lb bag frozen hash browns slightly thawed (the square kind not the shredded. I get the Ingles brand b/c they cook so much better) 1 (16 oz) Sour Cream (you can use regular or light...it doesn't change the taste) 1 melted stick of butter (I use a little less b/c to much butter in it makes it soupy) 2 1/2 cups grated cheese 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 med. chopped onion (again...I don't really use the whole thing) Salt and pepper

Mix everything and pour in greased pan. Cook at 400 until brown around edges. Depending on your oven, it takes around 45 minutes. This is my every single holiday dish. I have made this for years and love it. I got this recipe from my sister-in-law. This is soooo easy to make and way better than the ones with shredded hash browns.

Green Bean Casserole

There are all kinds of green bean casserole recipes out there but they start getting complicated and start looking a little like the leftovers that you throw out to your dog. The very best recipe to follow is the one on the back of the French's French Fried Onions can.

1 (10 3/4 oz.) can CAMPBELL'S® Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 cup milk
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 (9 oz. each) pkgs. frozen cut green beans, thawed or you can use 2 (14 1/2 oz) cans green beans, drained.
1 1/3 cups FRENCH'S® Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions

MIX soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2 -qt. baking dish. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup French Fried Onions. BAKE at 350°F for 30 min. or until hot.
STIR. Top with remaining 2/3 cup onions. Bake 5 min. until onions are golden.

Is it over yet???

Well...I'm sick. Been sick for a couple days now and already I'm forgetting what it feels like to be well. It started with night sweats that turned in to a horrible headache that has taken me to a very very upset stomach (I will keep the details to myself). I just feel yucky and weak. My body is aching and I don't want to move. Not sure what is going on but I sure hope it will pass soon. This weekend was suppose to be grocery shopping weekend which means we are pretty much down to nothing. Since I haven't felt good enough to go (or even think of food for that matter) that means that I have nothing to help me get over this. No crackers, bread, sprite...anything that is easy on the tummy. Thankfully my hubby is leaving work to go pick me up a few things and get them to me.
Unfortunately I had to miss class this morning. This is the first time ever that I have skipped class since I started back to college over a year ago. I hated it too b/c we had a quiz but since I didn't get much studying done yesterday it would probably have been pointless to go.

That brings me to school...We have next week off for the holiday and then only 2 1/2 more weeks to go. I am so ready for this class to be over with and behind me. Up until the zero that I will get for my quiz today (this teacher doesn't believe in make-ups) I haven't failed anything so that is good but I'm not exactly knocking it out of the park either. Oh well...I just want to pass. I have registered for a full load next quarter. Not sure what I am thinking b/c after this present class I will have fulfilled my requirements to apply to the radiography program. But for whatever reason I felt the pull to take a few more classes while I have the time and opportunity...you never know where God will lead me!

I'm gearing up for Thanksgiving but even more so for Christmas. I LOVE Christmas. There is nothing better than the decorations, presents, church, family, food and the looks on my kids faces! I've very very slowly started the Christmas shopping but haven't even put a dent in it yet. This year is exciting around here b/c this is the first year Tegan really cares and understands the idea of Santa. But I have fears that we are nearing the end of Rylee believing so I want to make it special for her.
I would already have the Christmas tree up but the hubby thinks that is over kill and makes it less special when the tree has been up to long. I guess I agree a little.

Oh...Hank the dog has moved to a new home. I hated to see him go and am really worried about him. He seemed like he was going to a good home. He was a wonderful dog but he wanted to be out running around a lot and there were several near death experiences that he had with us living right on the road. I'm not really an animal person but I really do miss Hank for whatever reason. I'm going to pretend that he is being treated like a king and that he will never die!

Bath & Body Works STEAL

Recently a sweet friend (thanks Amber:) posted on her facebook status about an awesome deal and coupon going on at Bath & Body works. If you buy 3 signature Bath & Body Works collections then you get 2 free(it was 3 free last week but 2 is better than none)! Each product is $10.50 so you spend $31.50....well I have a deal for that too! There is a COUPON that just came out for Bath & Body works where you can get $10 off of a $30 purchase! This makes each product $4.30 each! I am SOOOO excited about this!

Old Man

Do you think the following picture looks like a little old man with a pop belly??

Happy Halloween

What's that....it isn't Halloween anymore? My how the days are flying by. The weekend before Halloween we went on a little pumpkin patch adventure to Jaemore Farms. So much fun and really enjoyed this farm. It didn't hurt that they had awesome ice cream. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon there... Totally impossible to get Tegan to look at the camera but when he does, he smiles and scrunches his eyes closed.

The above picture is our view from the hayride.

Then there was Halloween. We decided to trick-or-treat a day early like a lot of people in our area since Halloween was on a Sunday. We did more driving than candy grabbing but no worries, there is more than enough candy to stick to my hips. Tegan was pretty much over it after the first two stops. I'm pretty sure that he thinks hunting is trick-or-treating:) Rylee was the reason we went trick-or-treating but she kind of lost her steam early too. Thankfully she has agreed to next year just get all dressed up and us do something fun for her and Teg at home. Sort of like a Halloween themed egg hunt?? We will see if that sticks for next year.

What is Tegan looking at??

My little hunter!

That look...that one right there....that's why he is spoiled rotten. He can give me that look and get A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G he wants!

My little cowgirl. Well I say little but she is getting tall and growing up right before my eyes.

Always striking a pose!

Let's ditch the trick-or-treating and hit Chick-fil-a!