Mothering on the Edge

Thursday, March 30, 2006

13 Things I love about Quesadillas!


Thirteen Things I love about Quesadillas!
  1. They are easy to make!
  2. They are cheap!
  3. Kids like them!
  4. You can cut them with a pizza cutter!
  5. You can dip them in salsa! (see #3)
  6. They are quick to make!
  7. They don't make crumbs, drip or otherwise make a mess when eaten!
  8. Sometimes I even have extra stuff, like cooked chicken or tomatoes, to make them seem more like a meal or something!
  9. I can say things like, "Make yourself a dang quesadiLa!" a la Napolean Dynamite!
  10. They're practically educational! We're learning Spanish! Queso! Tortilla!
  11. They look like chips! (see #3 again)
  12. They have cheese in them! (again...#3)
  13. I always have the stuff to make them!
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Who are we kidding--leave your link in the comments. It's the only way it will ever get done.



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




Posted by Sarah Jean :: 6:57 PM :: 3 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Sunday, March 26, 2006

General Conference (LDS post)

So, ya, I'm one of those Mormons or Others you hear about on the internet from time to time. Try to cope with this heartless shattering of your image of me...

And the first weekend in April (and October) is General Conference weekend. Let me translate that. That means we have a general (everyone) conference (series of meetings) of the entire (all 12 million of us) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). No, we don't all make a pilgrimage to Salt Lake City, although some people do go to the conference center to actually see it in person. Most of us stay home and watch it on TV (in Utah or if you have satellite) or go to our church buildings to watch it broadcast. They even podcast it, I understand.

There are 5 sessions, of which 1 is just for men that hold the priesthood, and the the other four are for everyone--2 Saturday and 2 Sunday. The priesthood session is Saturday night, and the ladies party it up while the men are gone. Being Mormon, however, this means no alcohol, no vulgarity...just a lot of chocolate and shopping. And lest you think the ladies are missing out, we have our own conferences, for young women in the spring and those over 18 (old women?) in the fall. If you're curious, you can read transcripts of the last conference at www.lds.org.

But what does this have to do with anything? Well, getting ready for conference is a big deal at my house. I want the kids to listen and not drive us nutty, so I found this coloring sheet from Jennysmith.net (not sure if she's related to Joseph, sorry) and a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!!! page activity book for primary kids. AND we will be refreshing our 72-hour emergency kits, i.e. eating stale granola bars and noodles. Quite a weekend.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 9:14 AM :: 1 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------
Token Inflation


These are tokens. There's a lot of them. Tokens are the currency of our household. They're actually poker chips with numbers written on them. I've had to redo the token values (they used to be just 1 tokens, all of them) because a) now the majority of our family can count to 10, and b) I wanted to break up the jobs into more divisions than 1 token jobs and 2 token jobs. So now we have white 1 tokens, blue 5 tokens, and red 10 tokens. I'm concerned if I let them inflate in value too much, we'll head into a token depression. Very sad. Then I have to start a Public Works Association, etc. Token charities....you know.

Earning Tokens
So, for example, the potty trainers get 1 token for going potty successfully (including redressing and washing hands). Emptying the dishwasher will be a 3 token job. Putting away the silverware only is a 1 token job. Picking up a family room is 3 to 5 tokens, depending on how many people are working on it. Watering trees in the summer earns 1 token/tree. Vacuuming is 5 tokens per room. 3 tokens for stairs. A bonus of the new system is I can now "tip" an extra token for a job that is especially well done.

Spending Tokens
TV time is 5 tokens/30 minutes, and a movie is 10 tokens. Whoever pays for the show gets to pick what's on. There is also a token store, up in my bedroom. It has stickers (from 3 to 10 tokens) and craft kits (10 to 25 tokens), usually bought from the dollar store.

Token Regulations
For nonviolent and not-so-heinous offenses (like leaving a wet mess in the bathroom after your bath that you don't have time to clean up before leaving for school, for example) persons may be fined tokens. If they have not the tokens to pay the fine, they may be indentured until the debt is paid. Token counterfeiting (using checkers in place of tokens or attempting to make your own tokens) is punishable by a grounding period of not less than 2 days. Theft of tokens whether from the bank or another family member, is punishable by a grounding period of 7 days, to be shortened if the tokens are returned and apologies are made.

In case you're wondering, 10 tokens = about $1 US. The blond hunk originally wanted to call them pesos, but I held out for the more PC "tokens". He also proposed 3 and 7 token denominations, but I'm sticking to the standard 5 and 10. We'll see how this goes.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 8:01 AM :: 4 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Beauty

So, my hair is actually not bad. The stylist asked if I wanted more highlights or less when she redid it. My reply: Whatever, go nuts! So it's a bit blonder than I imagined. After 20 years as a brunette, I was in a mild state of shock for the first day. The husband who made the unfortunate "different" comment has clarified that it was actually seeing my hair blow-dried straight (what is it about stylists that compels them to do that?) that looked odd to him. He likes the blond. I like it too, now that I'm getting used to it.

And I LOVE my eyebrows. Much more Angelina Jolie and less Brooke Shields. But after the first rrrrip, the waxer (facialist?) asked me if it hurt. I thought she was just being concerned and caring. Turns out she was asking if I had botox and was totally numb from the nose up. Cause after I blinked back the tears and said, "I'm fine" she stopped being careful. OUCH! Next time, honesty.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 6:12 PM :: 0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Thirteen Things Never to Say


Thirteen Things never to say
  1. to a hair colorist: "Sure! Go nuts!"
  2. to an eye-waxer: "No, that didn't hurt."
  3. to a woman who's just had her hair colored and eyebows waxed: "It looks...different."
  4. OR "wow...that's quite a change."
  5. to a six-year-old: anything that contradicts their plans or view of the world
  6. to a sensitive four-year-old: anything
  7. to a tired two-year-old: anything besides "do you want a cookie?"
  8. to a SAHM: "don't you get bored?"
  9. to an Italian waiter at an Italian restaurant: "You can't make chips out of pasta. I think these are potato chips."
  10. to an engineer: "That won't really work."
  11. to a mom: "You can't make me!"
  12. to an angry mom: "You can't ground me anymore than I'm already grounded!"
  13. to a blogger: "Who ya gonna tell?"
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




Posted by Sarah Jean :: 4:46 PM :: 4 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Friday, March 17, 2006

Thirteen Things that Make me Happy


Thirteen Things that Make me Happy
  1. Arby's opening before noon and serving real food, not fake-breakfast fast food. What's wrong with curly fries and a roast beef sandwich for breakfast?
  2. Arby's again--giant straws for their shakes. You don't even have to ask for them. None of this spoon business. If I'm eating fast food, I'm eating in the car. NO SPOONS!
  3. My soundtrack. That's what I'm calling my new Cricket phone (*I don't count!*) because it plays music for me, like one of those cool iPod dealies. It's like having my own movie soundtrack to walk around with. Gift from the hunk, of course.
  4. Good friends that help me believe in myself.
  5. My daughter's school. They wear uniforms--cute red and blue plaid jumpers and whatnot. But no green. And today, my daughter came home with a green markered heart on one hand, and a shamrock on the other. Why? "The teachers put them on so people would stop pinching me." I can just imagine teachers running around with a green magic marker, trying to protect the 1st graders from each other. Ha!
  6. Same daughter's four-leaf clover. Actually a one-leaf clover that she tore in 3 places. Apparently they're even MORE lucky that way.
  7. Dry days
  8. Crazy people like this
  9. AromaTHERAPY baths. Yes, the therapy is the important part of that.
  10. My sister, who came over today, just to play with the kids while I made dinner.
  11. My son, who picked out his own clothes today. T-shirt, jeans, and a smoo-ooth bow tie. Can't beat it.
  12. Tin foil--kitchen cleanup? No way.
  13. www.readthescriptures.com. I'm 26% of the way to my goal!
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
  1. The Sassy Lime
  2. Heather Duncan
  3. Muum
  4. Krisco



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




Posted by Sarah Jean :: 5:23 PM :: 0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Sex, Lies and Duct Tape

This rant has been rated PG-13 for adult themes. You kidlets, move on. Nothing to see here. Just an old lady ranting about the decadence of society.

So, kidlets are still in bed (envy) and Sister/friend-of-the-chronic-pain probably is still in migraine-induced hibernation because of the icky weather. And I'm mad about sex. No, this has nothing to do with the blond hunk I live with, actually. I went to Ivillage.com this morning to see what I could cook up for WFDW via Krisco to wow all you bloggettes, out there. And what did I find? Sex. Sex-sex-sex-sex!

Now, I'm not a prude. I like sex. Really, I do. I don't even mind a good conversation with friends or the blond hunk on the topic. I've even been known to shoot the breeze with my Muum about it. But women's magazines...what the heck!?! Here are the headlines: No Sex After Baby: Can a Marriage Survive?, Masturbation Hesitation and Trend Alert-Open Marriages. Does Agreed-Upon Cheating Keep Couples Happier? Hint: No, it doesn't. On Redbook's front page is: How Can I Enjoy Sex With the Lights On?

So it's not just about sex, is it? It's about making women so insecure that they must buy more magazines, take more quizzes, get more therapy, buy more products with names like Abdominizer, Gravitizer, Flatterizer...I mean, these surveys on How Often Married Couples Have Sex: Are you Normal? Am I NORMAL??? Are you joking me? Of course not! But why should I care? As long as the man and I are happy with our "frequency"...why does it matter what the neighbors are doing? Or how often!! I don't! The whole point of a monogamous relationship is finding what works for YOU (plural)! You and your spouse! Not the whole rest of the world!

My friend told me she's dropping a longstanding-subscription to Vogue because of their terrible setup of the new HBO series: Big Love. If you haven't heard about it, you probably don't get HBO or live in Utah. It's about a polygamist family living in the SLC suburbs, and it's horribly skewed. What else can you say? She also is sick of looking at pictures of what she looked like 10 years ago--skinny and perfectly made up. Three kids later, she's one of the most attractive women I know, but ... a model no longer. Why do we do this to ourselves?

The thing is, I find it offensive as a former journalist--this shameless selling of insecurity. Emotional muckraking, if you will. They're making women more needy, more unsure of themselves, and in the very area where you're supposed to feel safe, loved, etc. Not worrying whether the lights are on, or what the latest "trends" are, or if you're NORMAL! Geez! It's just creating a society where they can sell things like Herbal Viagra for Women! and whatnot. I mean, what are we doing here? Sex is important in relationships, but this...this is way past providing useful and interesting information. This is pandering. Give me a break.

/rant off

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 7:52 AM :: 6 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Monday, March 13, 2006

On Anniversaries

So, today is my parents' anniversary. 30 years. Let's hear it for the edgy people that brought me into this world (on the first try, no less!). They're pretty great. I'm realizing how great as I get to the ages I first remember them being. I remember my dad being in college and working 2 jobs. I remember my mom giving up her paper route because she was pregnant with lil'sis. I remember my mom's 30th birthday when she got her ears pierced. I was 8 and quite jealous. Most importantly, I remember my parents working together, fighting and making up. It taught me that marriage isn't just about romantic love, but also loyalty and friendship and just plain old determination. Both of my parents' parents divorced, and I know it wasn't easy for them to build a family, but they did. Pretty darn good one, if I can say that without sounding conceited.

Things I Learned from My Parents' Marriage
  • Love does NOT mean never having to say you're sorry (sorry for the double negative) but it does mean never saying "I told you so."
  • You can get really angry at a person and still love them.
  • If you fight in front of your kids (or loud enough for them to hear) make up in front of them too. Little kids worry about divorce.
  • Laughter, creativity and fun aren't just for the kids.
  • If you both feel like you married up, you've got a good start.
  • You can make up for a lot of your faults just by loving unconditionally.
And as a bonus...a weekend Haileyism:

H: *singing* Why isn't anyone singing with me?
M: Your father and I are trying to have a conversation. Could you sing quieter?
H: NO! Why don't you conversate later? Like, when we're in bed? There's plenty of time when kids are asleep to talk about boring stuff.
M: We sleep too, you know.
H: *rolling eyes* Right.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 8:11 AM :: 3 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Saturday, March 11, 2006

From the Comedians who brought you "The Chicken Crashing into a Tree"

More humor from E, the youngest of the pack:
E: "Mom, there's an elephant on your shoe."
Me: "What? Where? I'm not wearing shoes!"
E: "KIDDING!"

This is an upgrade from his previous joke-of-choice:
E: "Knock, knock"
You: "Who's there?"
E: "Boo!"
You: "Boo Who?"
E: "it's FUNNY!"

And for those of you who missed the Chicken Joke, it's his older sister's specialty, with many variations:
T: "Knock, knock"
You: "Who's there?"
T: "Chicken"
You: "Chicken who?"
T: "Chicken crashing into a tree!"

That poor chicken has crashed into more trees, cars and other chickens than PETA would be happy with. Don't look now, but there's a gazelle down your shirt.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 8:06 AM :: 0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Thirteen Things I Love about My Husband

Just thinking how lucky I am...


Thirteen Things I LOVE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
  1. His blue, blue eyes
  2. His kindness
  3. His love of animals, cars and the outdoors
  4. His determination to stay with me in hospitals (because he knows they scare me) through 2 babies (5 trips total) and a stroke.
  5. His blond, curly hair
  6. His loyalty (He didn't even say "I told you so" when I ripped up my arms weightlifting.)
  7. His smile
  8. He only rarely is bothered by me borrowing his clothes.
  9. He is a great father-patient, loving, firm and fun!
  10. He helps me wash dishes, fold laundry and change diapers (my top three most disliked chores).
  11. He holds me when I just need to cry, even though he wants to fix it.
  12. He spoils me rotten.
  13. He loves me too!



Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
  1. Heather
  2. Sassy Lime
  3. Snickerdoodles
  4. (You could be here!!! just link in your comment!!!)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!





9 years, 3 kids, 1 home, 2 people still in love
Daisypath PicDaisypath Ticker




Posted by Sarah Jean :: 1:25 PM :: 3 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

12 Days in the Playroom (an ode to preschoolers)

On the 12th day in the playroom, my children left for me

12 cups a leaking
11 toys a singing (or wiggling, giggling, asking questions or otherwise making an unholy racket)
10 socks a stinking
9 board books
8 teddy bears
7 dollhouse people
6 baby dolls
5 LEGO BLOCKS! (very painful on the feet)
4 playing cards
3 puzzle pieces
2 Barbie shoes
and nothing in the toybox at all.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 10:23 AM :: 3 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------
Kitchen Day

So, Flylady says it's Kitchen week, and it's What's For Dinner Wednesday, and I've been double-tagged for this, so...better get to work!

1. How many meals does most of your family eat at home each week? How many are in your family?
We all eat breakfast at home. H and the man eat lunch at school and work, generally, and we usually eat dinner at home too. We go out to eat...once or twice a month, probably. There are 5 in our family.

2. How many cookbooks do you own?
8 actual cookbooks, including one on Thai cuisine I'm borrowing from my evil jungle princess sis, and 5 issues of Everyday Food.

3. How often do you refer to a cookbook each week?
HA! Almost never.

4. Do you collect recipes from other sources? If so, what are some of your favorite sources (relatives, friends, magazines, advertisements, packages, the internet, etc)
The internet, my mom and sisters, friends...etc.

5. How do you store those recipes?
I have a purple folder with page protectors in it (Cookbook #4), that worked really well when I had 10 recipes. Now there's a few dozen, and it's in vast need of organizing.

6. When you cook, do you follow the recipe pretty closely, or do you use recipes primarily to give you ideas?
Ideas. I have a really hard time following recipes. My (engineer) husband has recently convinced me to at least write down what I actually put in things, so that it can be reproduced later.

7. Is there a particular ethnic style or flavor that predominates in your cooking? If so, what is it?
Um, the dominant style is: things-I-like-to-eat. Doing most of the cooking means I get to choose what is cooked. That's really the only theme, I'm afraid.

8. What’s your favorite kitchen task related to meal planning and preparation?
Actually making it--mixing it up and tasting and mixing

9. What’s your least favorite part?
CLEAN UP! ACK!

10. Do you plan menus before you shop?
For freezer cooking I do. But mostly I just keep ingredients around for the stuff I usually make.

11. What are your three favorite kitchen tools or appliances?
My big glass bowls, my Pampered Chef Mix'n Scraper, and my silicone bakeware

12. If you could buy one new thing for your kitchen, money was no object, and space not an issue, what would you most like to have?
Wow...and with Mother's Day on the horizon and everything...I'm going to have to edit this in later. I'm stumped.

13. Since money and space probably are objects, what are you most likely to buy next?
Still stumped.

14. Do you have a separate freezer for storage?
Yes!!! When we got the costco membership and I started freezer cooking, the husband bought a front-open chest freezer in the basement. It's great. I love it with all it's frosty goodness.

15. Grocery shop alone or with others?
Usually with my entourage, but occasionally alone. I like going alone. I read nutritional labels for fun instead of settling arguments about boy pullups and girl pullups.

16. How many meatless main dish meals do you fix in a week?
Mmm, good question. Most of our dinners (probably 5/7) have meat, but the other meals usually don't.

17. If you have a decorating theme in your kitchen, what is it? Favorite kitchen colors?
It was supposed to be grape vines, but I've never gotten around to it. It's got nice oak cabinets and green countertops. I like green.

18. What’s the first thing you ever learned to cook, and how old were you?
Wow...that's a good question. The first thing I remember cooking was No-Bake cookies. I probably cooked other things first, but they weren't as yummy. I was probably 7 or 8. I also have vivid memories of helping Mom with Poke Cake. I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4, but she let me poke the holes in the cake with the end of a wooden spoon and then she poured something hot and colorful into it (maybe jello?).

19. How did you learn to cook?
My mom. She taught me to cook and bake and even enrolled me in 4-H. I'm still learning, as my family can attest. They are the victims of my hapless experimentation.

20. Tag two other people to play
Krisco at Crib Ceiling and the Daring One at Daring Young Mom

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 7:31 AM :: 2 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Two-week Tori report

Two weeks ago, Tori turned 4. Due to snowy roads, her birthday party was less attended than she had hoped (Everybody is invited, right mommy?)










Pink cupcakes with pink frosting. A pink dress, princess video and a care bears viewmaster...

One week ago, we cut her hair.











She's not a baby anymore. But she's my baby.
Loves, sweet girl.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 8:01 PM :: 2 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Because I can feel my head swelling


with the notion that someone, somewhere will ask for the recipe for the bread I mentioned baking in my last post. And I'm just proud enough of it to share. It's so pretty! And pretty yummy, too!

Nut & Grain bread

Makes 2 loaves

3-4 c. boiling water

¼ c. cream of wheat

1 c. rolled oats

½ c. grape-nuts

Pour the water over the cereals and let sit for 15-20 minutes, until it’s cool enough to touch. You can just use 1 or 2 of these, or the cereal your kids left sitting untouched for breakfast. That's how I usually start this recipe.

Add:

¼ c. molasses

½ c. honey

2 T. yeast

And stir well. Let it sit another 10 minutes.

Now you should have a dark brown, gloppy, lumpy mess. That’s good.

Now add:

1 T. salt

2 eggs

½ c. sliced almonds

2 T. sesame seeds

And any other stuff you have around—wheat germ might be good, or sunflower seeds. You are a creative person.

Now start the flour:

3-4 c. of whole wheat flour

2-4 c. of white flour

Stir and then knead in the flour – as much as you can.

Let it rise in a buttered bowl with buttered (or sprayed) plastic wrap on the top. In an hour, come punch it down. It will be sticky again—that’s ok. Let it rise another hour (whole-grain breads get 2 rises), then punch it down and cut it in half. Make it into loaves and put them in the pans. Let it rise (proof? Whatever-) one more time in the pans for 20-30 minutes. Bake it for 25-30 minutes in 375 degree oven. If you want to get fancy, you can brush with butter or egg and put extra seeds or nuts on top. When it comes out, let it cool for 10-15 minutes and then take it out of the pan. Put it in a plastic shopping bag or an unsealed Ziploc bag—this will keep your bread from getting hard and stale before it’s even cool, especially if you live in the desert. J Enjoy, you nutty baker!


Posted by Sarah Jean :: 2:53 PM :: 1 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Thursday, March 02, 2006

I'm a Joiner (aka Thursday Thirteen)

...and a late joiner, at that...thank goodness for postdating posts!


Thirteen Things about Sarah

1. I own only 5 pairs of shoes, and only one of them have laces.
2. I have three kids. At least one of them is smarter than me.
3. I have one husband. He may or may not be smarter than me, but he's definitely nicer.
4. I had a stroke 5 years ago this Easter.
5. I'm back to what we jokingly refer to as "normal" now.
6. Linear space-time has no place in my blogiverse. (I postdate posts)
7. I've been described as both "sharp" and "blunt" in the last week, both by friends.
8. I like to bake more than I like to cook.
9. I like looking at other people's placentas, but my own grossed me out.
10. I leave editing marks in books and newspapers while reading.
11. I am starting to lose my hummingbird metabolism.
12. I'm baking Nut & Grain bread right now. It smells divine.
13. I did, in fact, tell my little sister that she was adopted several times when we were growing up. I have no explanation for it--I'm usually not a cruel or deceptive person. I've since apologized.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Sassy Lime
2. Muum
3. Krisco at Crib Ceiling



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




Posted by Sarah Jean :: 1:47 PM :: 3 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

What's for Dinner Wednesday

As usual, props to Krisco at Crib Ceiling for this. From the freezer again, this time it's:

Cheesy Potatoes with Ham
A serious warning for the faint of heart (or waist): This is NOT a low-calorie, low-fat or low-anything recipe. That said, it's quite yummy, and one of my favorite comfort foods.
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream
2 c. grated cheese
1 t. each salt, garlic powder and onion powder
2 c. chopped ham
24 oz frozen/thawed hash brown potatoes

Mix the soup, sour cream and salt and seasonings together in a big bowl (I'm not kidding about this). Stir in the cheese and ham, and then the hash browns. If you don't have time to thaw them, at least break them up a little on the counter. Stir it all together, and then pour (lurch) into a greased 13x9 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. OR cover and pop it in your freezer to have another time. It takes 90+ minutes to bake from frozen. If you like, you can put cornflakes on top the last 10 minutes of baking for that 1950s casserole je ne se qua. My kids like this because it's crunchy.

The original recipe asked you to sautee chopped onion and a clove of garlic in 1/2 c. of butter before adding. Ya...sure. I don't sautee anything for a recipe featuring a cream-of soup.

Posted by Sarah Jean :: 2:11 PM :: 0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---------------------------------------