Chunky Taters

I don't know about you, but I prefer my mashed potatoes to be chunky, not the consistency of baby food. I never really make mashed potatoes but when I recently did, my husband loved them.

Here is what you will need:

Yellow potatoes  (7 was more than enough for my family of 4 and we had leftovers)

Pepper to taste

Garlic Salt to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese to taste (Not the fancy fresh stuff, the ghetto stuff in the can cause that's how I roll)

1/4 milk (any kind)

6 tablespoons of butter (Does that sound like too much butter to you? Then you need to leave this page immediately)

 

Awe. Look at the beautiful golden taters. Rinse them off and don't worry about not getting ALL of the dirt off. I believe a famous philanthropists once said "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt."  Okay people, time to chop those potatoes. Legend has it, they cook faster when you do this. 

All chopped. Good job. And for those of you who are worried about the potatoes, don't worry, they didn't feel a thing.

Boil the potatoes in water until you can "stick a fork in it." Then add pepper, garlic salt, parmesan cheese, milk, and butter. 

I like to mash with a whisk instead of a potato masher. That way I will still have chunks of potatoes. 

You may need to add a little more milk. 

This is the time where you get to taste test your taters. Try saying that 17 times. 

Its hard to write down recipes for some of the food I make because it all depends on how much seasoning one likes. So try your taters and decide if you need to add more of something. 

Side Note: you can never add too much cheese! 

Here is my finished product. Its times like these I wish I had a fancy camera and amazing lighting, but I don't. These are super yummy, easy to make, and of course, cheap! 

Psssst! If you like this post, follow my blog! I have no shame.... 

Breakfast Biscuits

I grew up eating these biscuits. My father would make them on the weekends and it was almost impossible to wait for them to finish baking in the toaster oven. 

Here is what you will need:

3 cups flour

1 tbsp sugar 

1 tbsp baking powder 

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp cream of tartar 

3/4 c butter 

1 c milk 

 

Preheat oven to 450. 

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. 

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients. I use either two knives or two forks. I didn't grow up with the "fancy" kitchen tool that should probably be used for this step so I still do it old school. Cut until mixture resembles crumbles. 

 Make a well in the center of the mixture. Add milk and stir with a fork just until moistened. 

Sometimes I have to a add a dash of milk more. Use a fork and stir until mixture is moistened.

Lightly flour a surface and turn dough out onto it. knead the dough and pat or roll out. 

Use any kind of cutter you want. I think my dad always used a shot glass. I use little containers that I have for condiments. Cut out your biscuits. 

Look at the beautiful angle of this picture. Who needs a fancy camera when you have and iPhone? 

Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12 min or until golden brown. 

BAM! Golden. 

Here's the part I always liked as a kid. We would get all the goodies out of the fridge to top our biscuits. Honey, butter, jams and jellies. I'm a lover of Knott's Boysenberry jam.

 

This is super cheap, easy, and fast which is always what I look for in a recipe.

ENJOY!

Easy Apple Pie for the baking challenged

Apple Pie is my favorite and its super easy to make. But I know of some friends that are "baking challenged" so I decided to put this super easy recipe on my blog for those who need a little help. Here is what you will need:

7-9 granny smith apples

3/4 cup sugar 

2 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg 

1 tsp vanilla 

addition 2 tbsp sugar 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1 cap full of milk 

Pre made pie crust (im a cheater. I cant make my own crust. Aint nobody got time for that!) 

Aren't the apples pretty!? I love green. Lets just take a moment to look at them..... OK, moment over.

Peel all the apples. I peel them into the bag the apples came in.

Naked apples! 

 

I then cut the apples into thin slices. I prefer thin slices over chunks but you can do what you want. 

Put all the apples slices into a large bowl. Add sugar, flour, cinnamon (1/2 tsp), nutmeg, and vanilla. The recipe I have always used doesn't call for vanilla but I tried it with this pie and loved it. Gently toss together until coated. 

Now for the tricky part. Open pie crust box and remove crust. 

Hard part over. You did great. 

Place one crust in bottom of pie dish. 

Place apple filling is dish. 

Cover with second pie crust and carve a big S in it for Seitz.... or what ever design u want to do. But at least poke a few holes in the crust so the pie can "breath".

Mix 2 tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Take the cap from your milk and fill it with milk. If your milk doesnt have a cap then measure about 2 tsp of milk. Cover pie crust with the milk then sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mix. 

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Place foil around the outside of the pie. This will keep the edges of the pie from burning. 

Bake pie at 375 for 40 min. Take the foil off and bake for an additional 20 min. 

Let pie cool for an hour. 

DElicious! 

Try not to eat the whole pie in one sitting!

Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice

I LOVE this recipe. Its easy, cheap, and so yummy. I probably make it twice a month. It makes enough for a couple of days and who doesn't love left overs!? And my kids eat it so that's an A+ in my book. Here is what you will need:

Crock pot

1/2 white onion chopped

3 chicken breasts

1 can of cream of chicken 

1 box of Zatarain's yellow rice 

1 1/2 c grated cheddar cheese

2 cups frozen peas

2 cups frozen corn (corn not pictured because it was still at staters brothers waiting for me to buy!)

Trim fat off chicken (some people are super weirdos about there being any fat on their meat.... people like me... I cant stand chewing fat. Makes me want to gag). 

Place chicken on the bottom of the crock pot

 

"Sprinkle" chopped onion on top of the chicken

 

Now, I realize that I dont need to show you this many step by step pictures but I happened to take a lot of pictures while preparing this so, by golly, I'm going to make you look at them all!

Pour and spread 1 can of cream of chicken over the chicken and onions. 

Set crock pot to high and cook for 3 1/2 hours. Take this time to read a book, clean, watch your favorite movie, nap, or do whatever it is you do. 

After 3 1/2 hours, cook the yellow rice as directed on the box. Place rice, cheese, peas, and corn in the crock pot. See how pretty it looks!? You're doing a GREAT job! 

The beautiful frozen corn I bought at stater brothers made an appearance in this meal. 

When you have added all of the ingredients, mix them together with tongs. The chicken will literally fall apart like butter when you are mixing. I like to let it sit in the crock pot for another 30 minutes. 

This is the amazingness that awaits you. 

SOOO YUMMY! Of course I have to eat this meal with Hawaiian rolls. And yes, there is a bite taken out of one of the rolls and I tried to hide it. I couldn't help myself, I have to take a bite.