Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole.

You know you're a fat chick when... you look salivatingly forward to a certain dinner and pray for leftovers. Seriously. When I put this on my menu, I couldn't WAIT for it. It kept staring me in the face; Saturday: Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole. I thought about it all week long. Pathetic, I know. But honest. I've learned to take some shortcuts with this recipe for a number of reasons. First, I can rarely find the potatoes it asks for in the original recipe. Second, I substitute ground turkey. Third, I use dried parsley. Fourth, I use pre-cooked bacon to save time. I've done this recipe in its original form and it tastes the same to me either way. If it can taste just as good AND save me time, I'll do it. There's a witty comment there, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Anyway, on to the recipe!

First we're gonna gather our ingredients. 

Two things about this photo, 1. There is no margarine in it, I was using it as a prop, and 2. That ugly thing on the right, in the foreground is an onion. It looks like a potato.

To a bowl add two pounds ground turkey, 1 1/4 cup chopped onion, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 1/2 cup barbeque sauce and 1 teaspoon salt.

Mix it well by hand. Doesn't that look sexy?

Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray and press your meatloaf mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees.

About ten minutes before your meatloaf is done, make your potatoes. Using three envelopes of instant potatoes, add FIVE cups warm water and microwave for 5 minutes on high. No. Do NOT add six cups of water.Yes. I know that's what it says. Trust me dammit.

Take your bacon out of the package and chop it up.

Take your potatoes out of the microwave when they're done and add 2/3 cup evaporated milk, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1/2 cup canned crispy fried onions and your chopped bacon. Mix it well and take a taste. Or three, like I did.

SO GOOD.

BEEP! Or DING! Your meatloaf is done. Drain off any fat. Mine didn't have any. Thank you ground turkey. Whoop! Whoop! Holla!

Spread your potatoes over your meatloaf.

Top with 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese blend.

Put that sucker back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve it with extra barbecue sauce if you want. Eat it with a giant mixing spoon. Eat it from a trough if you'd like.

Just eat it!

Look at THAT. Meat and potatoes and cheese and everything good.

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Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole  (This is doubled and serves 8-10)

• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup barbeque sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 packages Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Instant Mashed Potatoes
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 package pre-cooked bacon
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/2 crispy canned fried onions
• 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Mix ground turkey, chopped onion, bread crumbs, eggs, barbeque sauce and salt in a bowl by hand until well mixed. Press mixture into bottom of pan and bake for 40 minutes.
3. Ten minutes before meatloaf is done, add your instant potatoes to a bowl with 5 cups of warm water and microwave on high for 5 minutes. While potatoes are in the microwave, take your bacon out of its package and chop it up.
4. When potatoes are done, add to them the evaporated milk, chopped bacon, parsley, garlic powder, and crispy canned fried onions. Mix well.
5. When your meatloaf is done, drain any fat from pan.
6. Spread potato mixture evenly over meatloaf and top with 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
7. Serve with extra barbecue sauce if desired. (It's REALLY good on top too.)

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I found the original recipe at: http://www.oreida.com/Recipes/C/Cowboy-Meatloaf-and-Potato-Casserole#.U5OoD3JdUfU

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

~ Nation

End of Year Class and Teacher Gifts for Those of Us Who Aren't Millionaires.

I did these a couple of years ago, and apparently had them on my computer still. Whoo-hoo! Here's my deal with class gifts and teacher gifts. I don't have a Circut or a Silhouette, so I can't do the fancy cut out tags. What I DO have though, is poster board! Purchased for a whopping 34 cents. I used a pen, a level and a pair of scissors to make tags for both projects. I is full of the smart.

First project: Have a Kool Summer!

First I measured the Kool-Aid packet so that the tag would be slightly smaller than the packet.

But I didn't take a picture of that, so here's a really lousy after picture. Was I doing this in the dark?

Use your pen and your level to make vertical lines.

Then make horizontal lines.

Then take some snazzy thin markers and write on each tag.

Make sure you smear it a little.  *sigh*

Realize that too many of them have smeared and start all over.  *DOUBLE sigh*

There we go!

Since I'm making two projects, I didn't need one whole piece for each class. That's why some of them say "You Otter". we'll get to that in a moment.

Cut out all your tags. You'll need tags, scotch tape, crazy straws and Kool-Aid packets.

Tape one tag to each Kool-Aid Packet and crazy straw. Wa-LA! 3rd grade class is DONE.

I found the original idea here: http://www.classroomdiy.com/2012/05/diy-simple-end-of-year-gift.html

Next up: You Otter have a Pop'in Summer!

Here's the tags. I realized that I should have just wrote Poppin'.

You'll need Otter pops, ribbon, tags, and a hole punch. Punch holes in your tags.

Take your Otter Pops out of the box. That's the easy way.  *wink*

First, have your child sign all the tags.

Now, tie 3 Otter Pops together with the ribbon, adding your tag right as you bunch them up. 

I don't know how else to explain how to put the tag on there. Run your ribbon through it and tie it on.

It's not rocket science.

Kindergarten is done! Whoopee!

I found the original idea here with free printable: http://missplueard.blogspot.com/2012/05/otter-pop-gift.html

This is my most pinned pin on Pinterest, with 474 repins currently. 

Now, for the most important, the TEACHERS!

I made them these pretty apple gifts with homemade caramel dipping sauce in small mason jars. 

I bought some cute ribbon and clear cellophane bags to which I added some pretty apples and a jar of homemade caramel sauce. (SO GOOD!) I made tiny thank-you cards that we all signed that I tied on with the ribbon. We gave them to their teachers, principal and office secretaries. 

I found the original idea here: http://www.whimsy-love.com/2012/05/teacher-appreciation-gifts.html

And the caramel dipping sauce recipe here: http://www.whimsy-love.com/2009/01/caramel-dipping-sauce.html

Stay tuned for this years treats!

~ Nation