Dinner!

Yesterday I was dying to use my new Rachael Ray casserole dishes that I got from my parents for Christmas, but coming up with something to make was another story. I knew I needed to make a casserole of some sort but with so many options how will I ever choose? I finally landed on shepherd’s pie a recipe I practically know by heart because I love it so much. I was so excited to use those dishes that I went to the mall yesterday and also got one of RR’s oval skillets and a 3pc knife set because they were on sale! I have to tell you it was awesome!

Here is a picture of my new pan and knives: 

But onto this recipe for shepherd’s pie that is so very easy! 

Ingredients:

2 cups mashed potatoes (I used the ones that are already cut in the freezer section by Ore Rida)

1 clove garlic, minced

1lb hamburger

½ small onion, chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 package frozen mixed vegetables

Shredded cheese (I used cheddar) 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cook your mashed potatoes, whichever method you chose, I threw mine in the microwave for 10 minutes, then combined with butter, sour cream and garlic.

Put a small amount of oil/cooking spray in the pan, add onion, cook until translucent

Add hamburger and cook until brown

Add vegetables and soup to the pan and combine

Pour the meat/vegetable mixture into a greased casserole dish

Place mashed potatoes on top and spread out over the entire dish

Place cheese on top of the potatoes, across the entire dish

Place casserole in the oven for 20 minutes or until heated through

ENJOY!

This recipe is so easy and yet it is so good. I have tons of leftovers since it is just me, but it is even better the next day, I think. So it is perfect for lunches the next day. I’m always looking for meals that I can prepare for supper the night before and then take with me the next day for lunch. It makes cooking for one that much more worth it.  

Have you guys tried any great recipes lately? Let me know! I’m always looking for something new to try! 

XOXO,

Course 2 Class 4: The Cake

Last night we had our final class of Course 2. In this class we used all the flowers we had made throughout Course 2 to decorate a cake. The cake itself was a double layer funfetti cake with a icing filling. We had to have the cake iced with the base icing before we arrived at class. So last night I made 3 batches of icing and ice the cake all from when I got off of work to when I went to class, a time span of about 3 hours. I got it done though, so that was good. 

So last night when we got to class we learned how to do the basket weave on the side of the cake. It is actually really simple, it’s just time consuming, but it looks awesome when it is done!  

Here is what the basket weaving looks like: 

After the basket weave was done we then put a border around the top, and then it was time for the flower arranging. The flower arranging was actually easier than I thought it would be. That was nice. I knew I wanted to use the lilies but that’s all I knew for sure. So I just started laying out the flowers, only breaking one, and this is what I came up with: 

Then I decided the cake needed a sentiment and with the New Year right around the corner why not Happy New Year. I was planning on taking the cake to work anyway, so why not! So that’s what I did: 

And another view of the finished cake: 

I had a lot of fun making all the flowers that we make in this class, however, I’m really excited to learn how to make even more flowers! Though, Course 3 the flowers are made out of gum paste and fondant instead of royal icing! How exciting! 

I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed this class, though it’s not over yet, I don’t know what I’m going to do when it is. Actually, thinking about it makes me kind of sad. So let’s not think about it and just embrace the present. 

Have you guys started any fun new crafts or hobbies? Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions to try something new? As I’ve said before I would highly recommend looking into this class if you are even thinking about it!  

XOXO,

As 2011 Comes to a Close…

…I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday however you celebrate! I know I had a great Christmas surrounded by friends and family. We had a little family gathering on Christmas Eve with a turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Then Christmas Day we had biscuits and gravy for breakfast then opened presents and went out to my cousin’s house for a prime rib dinner. It was a lovely day. We also watched the Grinch after everyone was stuffed full! It was a great way to spend the day.  

My mom and I made some awesome treats to take to Christmas Day dinner: 

Melty Snowman Sugar Cookies: 

And a close up: 

Strawberry Santa Hats: 

And a close up:

Let me tell you these were so fun to make AND so easy! I mean seriously it doesn’t really get much easier than this. For the cookies we just made sugar cookies, frosted them with icing then you melt the marshmallows in the microwave slightly, and then draw on the faces and the bodies. So easy. The Santa hats are even simpler. You make a pan of your favorite brownies, cut out with a small round cookie cutter, put some icing around the edges of the brownie cut outs, and put a strawberry (hulled and cut flat) on top, with a dollop of icing on top of the strawberry and VOILA! You have Santa hats. Those Santa hats went like crazy at the dinner. They were the first thing gone! Woo hoo!  

How were your Christmas celebrations?  

Now is the time of year everyone starts to think about their New Year’s Resolutions and I am definitely one of those people. This year I want to try to make more realistic goals and post them around so I am constantly reminded of what I want to have accomplished by December 2012! We will see. 

What are you resolutions for 2012? 

XOXO,

Can You Believe...

…Christmas is only 2 days and a wake up away! It’s hard to believe that 2011 is so swiftly coming to a close. It seems like we were just saying good bye to 2010, and here we are now about to say goodbye to 2011.

I am overly excited about Christmas this year. Since losing my grandpa on Christmas Eve in 2008 I haven’t really gotten into the Christmas spirit. This year however, without school deadlines breathing down my neck along with other commitments and I think I have finally personally dealt with my grandpa’s death, I am so excited to celebrate this year! I’m glad that I’m back to my old self and excited about the holidays. I love spending time with family, being in the spirit of giving, seeing everyone’s faces when they open the gift you have carefully thought out for them, and who cannot love the food! There is nothing like holiday cooking!

Usually we go to cousin #1’s house on Christmas Eve for seafood night, however, this year my dad has to work and doesn’t get home until about 7:30p, therefore we won’t be going to seafood night. Instead, mom and I are going to cook a small turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and some green beans. This way my dad doesn’t have to miss out on Christmas Eve dinner. Then we will probably go drive around and look at Christmas lights! Then Christmas Day is the big day! We open stockings in the morning and then presents along with having cinnamon rolls for breakfast, then we will head out to cousin #2’s house for prime rib dinner! It’s quite the tradition we have going for our family!

Oh I forgot to mention that either Friday or Saturday my mom and I are going to go see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movie. I read the entire Stieg Larsson series last summer and LOVED it. I’m interested to see the American adaptation of the books. I’m always interested to see how directors/writers adapt the books to movies. Nine times out of ten the books are better than the movie, but it is still fun to go and to compare and contrast. The other movie series I will be watching this weekend is Twilight through Eclipse. I recently finished reading the entire series and now it’s time to watch the movies! Here we go!

What traditions do you have with your families? What do you think about it being so close to 2012 already?