Different Baked Potato

Here's a different way to make potatoes - especially good when baking something else in the oven --

Potatoes - I used just 5-6 potatoes - but you can use however many you want - just make them uniform in size - I peeled and washed them and cut most of them in half

chicken broth
garlic powder
butter
salt & pepper

Put the potatoes in appropriate baking dish.   Add some garlic powder to the chicken broth and heat to blend the flavors.  I just microwaved for 30 seconds.  Fill the pan with the hot broth to about 1/4"-1/2" and sprinkle the potatoes with salt & pepper.

Place a tiny pat of butter on each potato.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

Once on your plate - feel free to add extra butter or gravy to your potatoes.

The potatoes in the baking dish -

 The garlic chicken broth, butter & salt/pepper added -

In the oven -

The very top photo is right out of the oven - this is on the plate (with City Chicken that I will be posting about another day!) -

Here is another sneak peek at my Valentine decorations -

Lucy definitely doesn't want to hear about more holiday decorations!  Didn't we just put the Christmas ones away??

I am linking to Craft-O-Maniac's Monday Party.  Just click here to see the amazing ideas!!

Chicken Enchilada Dip - A New Favorite!!

I tried a new appetizer - Chicken Enchilada Dip - and it is now my favorite!!!!!

Chicken Enchilada Dip

1 C. Hellman's Mayo
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 large can of chicken, mash it so it's not in chunks
1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can diced green chilies
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
handful of shredded cheddar for the top

Tostito Scoops or whatever you choose

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl.  Put into a quiche or pie pan.  Sprinkle with a handful of shredded cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Serve with the scoops or tortilla chips.

See how easy it is!!!!!

Here it is all mixed up -

 

In the quiche dish -

Handful of cheese sprinkled on top -

Finished baking -

Looks yummy -

My new favorite - and leftovers heat up in the microwave taste great, too -

I am starting my Valentine's Day decorating.  I just love to decorate for any holiday!!  This is in the Master Bathroom -

Forgot to show you the birthday card I received from Lucy a few weeks ago.  Here she is with the 'look alike' on the card -

I am linking to Under The Table and Dreaming's Sunday Showcase Party.  Just click here to see the fab ideas!!

Glazed Meatloaf

This is my 'go to' dish when I have a 2 lb. pkg. of ground beef in the freezer - because I always have everything else to make it --

The glaze on top really adds to the flavor - so give this a try!!

GLAZED MEATLOAF

2 eggs, beaten
2/3 C. milk
dashes of salt & pepper
3 slices of bread, cut in small cubes
2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 C. chopped onions

Glaze:
1/4 C. brown sugar
1/4 C. ketchup
1 T. prepared mustard

In a large bowl - stir together the eggs, milk, bread, and salt & pepper.  I like to then let it soak for about 5 minutes.  Then, beat until the bread is broken up.  Add the onion and ground beef.  Mix it well.  Form it into a loaf and put in baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. 15 minutes.

Next, combine the ingredients for the glaze.  Spread over the top of the meatloaf.  Bake for an additional 15 minutes.

While I have the oven in use I usually make either baked potatoes or scalloped potatoes to go with this - baking them mostly at the same time.

Here is the egg/milk mixture with the bread cubes soaking -

The bread broken up -

Onions and ground beef added -

In the baking dish -

After baking 1 1/4 hrs. and prior to the glaze -

Glaze -

Glaze on the meatloaf prior to baking -

Ready -

You know these will make great leftovers, too -

Now, Lucy has been doing a little hibernating lately.  She had her paws just like a little rabbit, but by the time I took the picture - she moved the one to her face.  You have to imagine - ha!!

I am linking to The Thrifty Home's Penny Pinching Party.  Just click here to see all the ideas!!

Planning for Christmas 2013

I know that some of you have put Christmas far behind you, but I had decorated so much that it takes most of the dismal January (I live in the north - can you tell??  Ha!!) to put it away.  Before I started that task I looked at each room and made plans for Christmas 2013.  Some of my trees will stay the same, a couple from this year I will not use next year, I will be changing a couple around, and some I didn't use this year will appear again in 2013.  I plan to have the same number of trees - 9 - just a reconfiguration - as it should be to keep it lively!!

I am keeping my notes nearby (after the decos are put away these notes will be in my planner for me to reference often) as I pack the decorations away.  For example -

it dawned on me -- I have one of those small birdcages for decorating but no bird!  I have several on my main tree - so I have them put aside and will have them throughout the year if I need them for decorating -

I have decided to still us my champagne colored tree as my Main Tree, but to only use red and green ornaments on it next year.  I am separating my red and green ones and these will be at the top of the tote (and, yes, I do have to buy a lot of red and green ones before December!!) -

I am going to use one of my 6' corner trees in our bedroom and put my Mom's ornaments and my Snowbaby ornies on it.  Several years ago that tree bit the dust and I just went to plan B with decorating in that room.  Now, I'm going to be re-introducing those ornaments to a different tree.  I had a new Snowbaby ornament on the Main Tree that is now separated -

I want to do something completely different for my mantel this coming year.  It finally came to me - Reindeer Everywhere!!!  I have several ideas and gathered up the different reindeer from the tree and various places and will pack them away together -

Even if you have your decorations all taken down - just take a little time over a cup of coffee and think back or look at your photos.  Now, is a good time to make a plan for Christmas 2013 and you can spread your buying, crafting, and online browsing throughout the entire year!!!!

Lucy enjoys when we start to pack things away - she is so curious.  She loves the paper/tissues and has so much fun 'hiding' in them.  Oh, Lucy -- where are you???

I am linking to Inside BruCrew Life's Trick or Treat Tuesday!!!  Just click here and look at all the great ideas!

My Top Ten Posts of 2012

A little year in review -- the top ten posts!!

Tied for #10 -
CHRISTMAS PHOTO PROPS  -

and BAKED ZITI -

#9 - MONOGRAM ORNAMENTS

#8 - LOVE

#7 - LIGHTED PRESENTS

#6 - TORTILLA ROLLUPS -

#5 - EIGHT LAYER CASSEROLE -

#4 - STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS -

#3 - MY OBSESSIONS -

#2 - 2012 CHRISTMAS DECOR -

AND #1 ---- 2012 CHRISTMAS TREES - 9 OF THEM!!!

At the end of each of these posts you'll see Lucy doing something interesting.  I have never bought her any toys with catnip because - well - she is 'crazy' enough!!  But my daughter gifted her with catnip mice for Christmas and this is what I got -

I hope that all of you have a great 2013 and that it is all you want it to be!!!

I am linking to Stone Gable's Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits.  Just click here to see the amazing ideas!!!