Meat Loaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Icing

 I made this the past two years and it tricked my family both times.  My kids get so excited to have cupcakes for dinner!  Their faces, after the first bite, are priceless!  We all have a good laugh!!

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1 pkg onion soup & dip mix
• 2/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. 
In a large bowl mix everything very well.. Divide the mixture evenly into foil muffin cups, pressing mixture down firmly.
Bake 35-40 minutes or until meat is fully cooked (160 degrees F).

Mashed Potatoes

• 6 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• salt and pepper

In a large saucepan, place potatoes in generously salted cold water.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender.  Drain.  Add butter and milk; mash until creamy and smooth, adding more milk if necessary.  Season with salt and pepper. 
Place potatoes in a decorating bag with large tip.  Starting at outside of loaf and in circular motion, pipe potatoes onto each loaf. 
(The firs year I added a little food coloring, but my husband had a really hard time eating them.  The second year I just left them white and added a cherry tomato on top. He said that was better!)

Leprechaun Letter

My children woke up to little foot prints all over their room and a letter from Lucky the Leprechaun. Download Letter
So we decided to make a Leprechaun Trap.  He keeps leaving footprints around the house...I hope we catch him!

He keeps taking our money, but he always leaves a little treat! 

St. Patricks Day Treasure Hunt

I created this little treasure hunt for my children to finish off the day of searching for Lucky the Leprechaun. 
Download Clues

Rainbow Pancakes

 

I came up with this idea while laying in bed thinking about a fun St. Patrick's Day breakfast.  My kids were overly excited about these!

 

 

Buttermilk Pancakes

 

• 1 cup flour
• 1 TBS sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 TBS cooking oil

 

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt.  In a separate bowl combine egg, buttermilk, and oil.  Ad egg mixture all at once to flour mixture.  Stir until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Can add more buttermilk if it needs thinned.  Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto lightly greased griddle. Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes on each side, turning to second side when pancakes have bubbly surface and edges are slightly dry.  Serve warm with butter or peanut butter and syrup.

 

For the Rainbow pancakes, I divided the batter in two separate pouring bowls.  I added a few drops of orange food coloring (Durant's favorite color) to one and blue (Shandon's favorite color) to the other.  I then poured one color in a rainbow shape and then the second right on top.  I added butterscotch chips and chocolate chips at the bottom of the rainbow (pot of gold).  

What's For Dinner?

I'm always creating meals from meals so these menus will help you create quick & easy,
yet very delicious, meals from night to night.
Menu: (Click to view recipes)

Beef & Bean Burritos with Green sauce
Roast Beef with Mashed potatoes & Gravy
Mexican Shepherd's Pie
French Dip with french fries & Cole Slaw
Tostada

 

Open Face Enchiladas

Biscuits and Gravy with corn
Pizza Pockets

Stuffed Sopapillas
Spaghetti with Creamed Green Beans 

Hawaiian Haystacks

Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and peas

Tuna Casserole

Sausage & Rice

Chicken Noodle Soupwith Homemade Rolls

 

Chili Beans

Chicken Enchiladas

Potato Soup with Homemade Rolls

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Chili Dogs

 

  

Honolulu Chicken

Cheeseburger Soup

Spinach Cheese Manicotti with Bread sticks & Salad

Enchilada Casserole

Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli

 

Pulled Pork with fried potatoes & Corn on the Cob (a family favorite & they're 5 for $1!)

Pizza Quesadillas

Pork Chimichangas

Chicken over Noodles

Cowboy Pasta

 

Turkey Dinner (bought a turkey on sale!)

Chicken Enchilada Tostada

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Sandwich Pockets

Chicken Enchilada Nachoes

 

Steak with Grilled Corn on the Cob

Easy Chicken Tetrazzini with Grilled Asparagus

Ground Beef and Rice

Steak Fajita Quesadillas

Chicken Salad Croissant's

 

Slow Cooker Steak Dinner

Taco Salad

Chicken & Stuffing

Crock Pot Stroganoff

Taco Soup

 

Creamy Steak Over Rice

Tomato, Garlic & Basil Chicken with Twice Baked Potatoes

Grilled Pizza

Rice and Ham Casserole

Tomato, Garlic & Basil Chicken Alfredo

 

Baked Ham with Ham Sauce with Funeral Potatoes & Fresh Green Beans

Mexican Pasta Skillet

Ham & Hash Brown Casserole

Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Barley Chili

 

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Lasagna
Chicken & Bacon Pizza
Green Chili Stew
Ham & Cheese Pasta

 

Loaded Mashed Potatoes

This is a family favorite!

•  2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 TBSP butter
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4-6 slices of bacon, cooked & crumbled
• 1 green onion, sliced

Place potatoes in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain and place in a large bowl. Add the sour cream, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Beat on medium-low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 cups cheese, bacon and onions. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Minestrone

Love to make this with all the fresh vegetables out of my garden!



• 7 slices thick bacon; diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves; minced
• 1 med. onion; chopped
• 2 stalks celery; chopped
• 2 carrots; diced
• 2 large potatoes; diced
• 1/2 medium cabbage; finely sliced
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP dried or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1 15 oz. can Kidney beans
• 2 quarts soup stalk; chicken or beef
• 1/2 c spaghetti; broken in 1" pieces

Fry bacon in a large stock pot.  Add garlic, onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.  sauté until veggies are tender.  Add the tomatoes, basil, salt, parsley, beans and broth.  Simmer about 35 minutes.  Add the spaghetti and simmer another 10 minutes.