My version of Potato Smashers

I saw a recipe off the Pioneer Woman Cooks for Potato Smashers. She used olive oil and herbs and it looked too good! I decided to do my own version. So, I guess I'll call them Williams Smashers. I boiled my New Potatoes til they were tender. Then put them on a greased cookie sheet and lightly brushed them with butter. I took a Potato Masher and mashed 'em good! Then I topped them with bacon. I cooked them at 450 for about 20 minutes. Salted and Peppered them and added some cheese. I cooked them another 5-10 minutes. They were great! I would highly recommend the Williams Smashers!

Scrappin' Pool Party

Debbie and Lillie

Selena, Margaret, and Pam

Ann, Cheryl, Jennifer, and Judy....I missed Jaime somehow!!! Sorry!!!

Last night my scrapbook ladies and I had a pool party over at Selenas. We celebrated Ann and Cheryl's birthdays because we are taking a break from scrapbooking through August. There was a TON of food and LOTS of fun! I took a few pics beforehand so I would have something to scrapbook. No pics of us in our swimsuits will be posted or scrapped! Little Lillie and Evan were there too...they were a hoot to watch! I can't believe how big they are getting....seemed like yesterday Jaime was pregnant!!!

I realized last night I do need to practice more with my camera...the lighting and no flash is throwing me off! Oh well. I am blessed to have such a wonderful group of women to scrapbook with. Thanks Selena!

Christylee's Baby Shower

The Gifts

There were so many cute outfits!

I even modeled the sling for Christylee! LOL!

My baby blanket

I knitted washcloths for her too- a butterfly and baby buggy

Christylee with the food

The spread!

Mrs. Nancy (Christylee's Mom) Chrusty, and Carlie (her sister)

High School Friends-Christylee, Me, Alicia

Brinda and Linda Kentner-we haven't seen them in years!

This past Saturday I hosted a baby shower for Christylee at our house. Mom and I had a blast getting everything together. We had Chicken Salad Tartlets, Pizza Rolls, Taquitos, Cupcakes-white chocolate and chocolate, salsa and chips, a cheese ball, punch, and wedding cookies! It was really special for me...the bowl with the salsa and the punch bowl my Aunt Linda gave me. I feel really blessed she chose me to give those items too! I couldn't wait to use them!

Christylee had such a wonderful turn out! We had met some nice ladies and even saw some ladies we haven't seen in years! Christylee loved her blanket I knitted for her! It came with restrictions though....if I don't see Lily on it, I get to have it back!!! Mom and I were so happy to be able to share this with Christylee and Mrs. Nancy! Enjoy the pics. In a few days I will be able to post some pics of all the things I made for my friends with babies...just have 1 more gift to give out!!!

Heather and James' Baby Shower

Some of the crowd

Heather holding a soft fleece blanket

The food spread

The happy expecting couple!

Diapers!!! Yes!!!

So cute...tiny outfits!

Just a few gifts!

Mom and I threw a baby shower for Heather this past Sunday afternoon. We had so much fun fixing all that food and especially eating on it! Heather and James got a lot of gifts!!! I can't wait for baby Michael to get here soon! We are so blessed to have James and Heather as friends...and she cuts great hair too!!!

Dinner with Mom and Dad

Mertis M. Mertz....Dr. Mike's calls him Mertis Murtle

The Arbor we got married underneath at church!

Mom's flowers...they are really pretty!

Sadie Rose

My camera Man!

Gee that's attractive....I can't WAIT for Heather to get ahold of my hair!!!

Mom and Dad

The food spread!

Last night Luke and I went over to Mom and Dad's to eat dinner. Mom fixed a wonderful dinner of Ham, Hash brown Casserole, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Fresh Tomatoes, and Chocolate Chip Muffins. We had the rest of our Peach Cobbler for dessert. After stuffing ourselves too much, we sat down to watch Pirates of the Caribbean. I had forgotten what a great movie that is!!! I love Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. I think I'm going to see if we can't rent the rest of them tonight. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great meal! Love you!

A Yummy and Easy Peach Cobbler

Can you tell I love the fresh veggies and fruits in the summer? Last night we had Fried Cubed Steak, mashed taters and gravy, fresh purple hull peas, and some fresh fried okra (that was my favorite!!! And I used only a teaspoon of grease to fry it in!) I wanted to use my fresh peaches for a cobbler. This was SO good and stupid easy!!!

Easy Peach Cobbler
5-6 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced (if you can actually do 7 that's great...then you can snack on them as you cut them! haha!)
sprinkle some cinnamon over the top of the peaches...and a little nutmeg.
Top the peaches with brown sugar (it called for 3/4 c. but I didn't measure it....sorry!)
Top the brown sugar with 1 box yellow cake mix
Cube 1 stick butter and put pats over yellow cake mix
Sprinkle with 1/2 c. pecans.
Bake 350 for 50-60 minutes. Mine took about 50 minutes...the house smelled SO good while it was cooking. If you serve it warm with vanilla ice cream on it.....YUMMY!!!! Enjoy!

Breakfast for Dinner was great!

Paula's Butterscotch Rolls

Hash Brown Quiche

The Butterscotch Rolls of Paula's turned out great. They were gooey and yeasty and sweet....YUM!! The Quiche was pretty good too. You know I can't follow a recipe so instead of the green onions and ham....I cut up and fried some bacon with a vidalia onion. The crust would have been better had I read the right temp to cook it at....450 not 350. See you cook it at 450 then turn your oven down to 350 towards the end! Anyways. It was a pretty good dinner!



Paula's Breakfast Quiche
3 cups, shredded frozen hash browns, thawed and drained
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
3 large eggs,beaten
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
1/2 cup diced green onions
1 cup shredded Cheddar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Gently press the drained hash browns between paper towels to dry them as best as possible. In a 9-inch pie plate, toss the hash browns with the melted butter into the plate. Press them into the bottom and up the sides to form a crust. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and starting to crisp.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. When the hash brown crust is ready pour the egg mixture over it and return to the oven.
Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for about 30 minutes until the quiche is light golden brown on top and puffed.

Paula Deen Breakfast for Dinner??? (Revised with Cooking Times and Pics!)

Here's the rolls all done and waiting to rise! Sleep tight little rolls til about 5:00 tonight and we'll eat you for dinner!!!

When I went to the Stattons the other day we watched Paula Deen's TV Show. She showed these Butterscotch Rolls and a Hash brown Crust Quiche. I thought...hmm...I'll make that for supper one night this week. So this morning I made the rolls....to let them rise for about 8-10 hours and we'll have them along with the Quiche for supper! Blogger is having some issues with pics so I'll post later! Here's the recipe for now!

Paula's Butterscotch Rolls
1 (3.5 oz) pkg. butterscotch pudding, not instant
16-18 Frozen Dinner Rolls
1/2 stick butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2c. pecans
Spray a Bundt Pan with Pam. Place the dinner rolls on the bottom. Top with the dry pudding mix, brown sugar, pecans, and butter. Put a damp towel over the top and let them sit for 8-10 hours! Hope they are good! Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 then flip onto plate and enjoy!

Ok, so it's not my ears this time!

That is a BIG praise! My tube is all in place and not clogged at all. The ear drum was a little red which would be because I now have a sinus infection. I have had an ongoing headache for about a week now which explains a lot! So now I'm on my good old friend Omnicef again for like the millionth time since October! Oh well....as long as it works I'm a happy camper! Thank you Lord it wasn't my ears after all!

I have learned to love my ears...

I guess! I think I have yet another ear infection in my left ear. I have had sinus pain and pressure since yesterday and it has gotten worse today. My left ear is hurting in the usual....you have an ear infection pain...so I get to call Dr. McGhee's office in the morning! I thought the tube was supposed to help with all of this. Maybe I'll go in to his office and it will be miraculously healed and just a figment of my imagination. One can wish right???

A Dinner Date with Friends

Friday night Luke and I had our friends James and Heather over for dinner. I made a WAY too big pot of homemade spaghetti with all the sides (bread & salad!). For dessert we had a new recipe....homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes. They were really good! We also had the Yarnells Cupcake Celebration Ice Cream (thanks to Alicen I have added 10 lbs. to my hips!) that ice cream is wonderful! I didn't take anymore pics than these two. We talked for hours and had a blast. I was able to show Heather a video of a girl I want my hair cut like....and I picked one that my thick hair will actually do! Heather and James are due in August and we are really excited for them. I can't wait to meet their sweet little boy. They are such fun friends to have around! Thanks guys!

Ode to School Supplies...

Yes, school supplies have made their way into Walmart already. I'm like a kid in a candy store. I cannot resist buying a box of Crayola Crayons....and yes, I smell them every year. It reminds me of school, friends, and the nervous jitters of that first day of school. It also reminds me of my poor Mom writing my name on every crayon, marker, and pen. It somehow reminds me of the time a girl stole my ruler....and was trying to lick my name off of it....needless to say, I let her keep that one!

I can't resist the school supplies aisle. I smile when I walk down that precious aisle. And yes, every year about this time, I squelch the urge to by markers, more crayons, folders, and wide ruled notebook paper. Go ahead laugh, you probably already think I'm a nut. I guess that's the teacher side of me and my love for school supplies!

I'm going to be an Aunt Part 2

Many of you may be wondering how I am actually considering myself an Aunt since my brother has no kids and I don't have any other siblings....well let me tell you. My Mom's best friend Debbi was my Aunt. Not in a geneological sort of way.....but that's what I called her...Aunt Debbi. She was like my second Mom. She came to all my birthday parties and all my other life celebrations. She was always around. My Mom and her had been best friends for 42 years. People used to ask them, are you sisters? They would reply, "Yes, our Mom could only think of 1 name!" I can't imagine my life without my Aunt Debbi being a part of it. We truly do miss her, but we were both blessed by having her and Uncle Will in our lives.

My best friend Christylee is having her first baby. So when I found out she was pregnant....of course I knew I would be an Aunt! The coolest thing about Christylee and me is that our birthdays are one day apart...just like Mom and Aunt Debbi. Of course, I'm older, which means I'll get wrinkles first. I knew the moment I found out Christylee's birthday was a day after mine that we would become best friends...and we have been ever since 10th grade! I had been searching for a friend like my Mom had in my Aunt Debbi.

So now that I am going to be an Aunt...I have to do some of the things my Aunt Debbi did.

*Things like taking pictures of little Lily growing up.

* Giving her a TON of bath and body stuff for her 16th birthday

*Pinning her graduation cap on her head (thanks to Aunt Debbi mine was a perfect point at the top!!!)

*Sharing recipes with her

*Even beating her up when she finds out her Mom is adopted (Aunt Debbi had to rough me up on that one too....I don't remember that night at McDonalds the day after I found out my Mom was adopted!)

*Maybe I won't tell her I don't like her dining room table she bought b/c it was too high (I just simply smile whenever someone says they love my table!)

*Being able to be there when she gets married. I'm SO thankful my Aunt Debbi was there for that!

So, I'm sorry Mom if this made you cry. I know how much you miss her, I do too. I only hope I can be as great of an Aunt to Lily as Aunt Debbi was to me!

I'm going to be an Aunt!

My best friend Christylee is having her first baby in September. I have worked so hard on her gift and am super excited! I can't show pics on here b/c I think she checks the blog...so you'll have to wait til after her shower to see pictures of what I made! Thought I'd share a few ultrasound pics she had done yesterday. I guess I had being an Aunt on my mind and the baby shower I'm throwing her when I went to bed last night. I dreamed her Mother In Law and Mom both came and brought lingerie! They got the showers messed up. I remember Christylee opening something slinky and saying... "You can't bring lingerie to a baby shower!!!" Some dream huh! Enjoy pics of little Lily! I'm sure I'll have more to come soon!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

My BBQ Man

The grilling spread!

Randy and Ann

The rest of the food!

Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding...a Paula recipe for sure! It was wonderful!
To celebrate the 4th, we had our good friends Randy and Ann over for dinner. We fixed Hambugers, Hot Dogs, Corn Casserole, Baked Beans, Cheese Dip and Chips, Deviled Eggs, and Not Ya Mama's Banana Pudding for dessert. It was so good! We had the best time laughing and visiting with Randy and Ann. We also were able to watch the DVD of Ashley's Wedding. We even looked at the pics Luke and I took...there were too many of me on the CD! Thanks Randy and Ann for a fun evening! Happy 4th of July!

A Photo Dinner

Luke and Alyeska watching TV

Me and Mr. Camera Man

Slice your new Potatoes..works especially good with my KitchenAid Santoku

Pour Rand Dressing over Taters

Add your bacon

And cheese...bake for about 350 or 400 for 40 minutes

Faux Crab Cake Ingredients: bread crumbs, mayo, 1 egg, 2 cans Tuna

Drain 2 cans of Tuna. Add your Egg. Add 1/4c. Mayo. Add 1/4 c. bread crumbs. Put another 1/4c. bread crumbs in a small bowl.

Gently stir. You want the tuna in hunks.

Make into patties and roll in the remaining bread crumbs.

Fry til golden brown. I used very little oil.

The final pic!

The other night Luke really wanted to take pictures. I knew we probably didn't need to eat out again...so we cooked and took pictures all while watching John and Kate Plus 8. I love that show! Bless those people because they have 8 children. That's like having a whole preschool class all the time! Some people may think they are crazy....but they didn't plan on having 8 children...they had twins...wanted one more...had 6 all at once! It's not at all like the Duggards (at least I think that's what their names are) who have like 19 and one more on the way...please...that's just plain fuzzardy! Enjoy these pics. For dinner that night we had: Paula Deens Faux Crab Cakes, Green Beans, and Ranch Bacon Taters. What you don't see is that Luke not only had his camera in my face...but an umbrella light stand as well. We are nuts for sure!