Mashed Sweet Potatoes!

So my little guy Jared LOVES Sweet Potatoes. From a very very early time that was his go to veggie.  When I started making picture recipes for my youngest brother I knew this had to be sent to him. He doesn't know how great they can taste! So I wanted to introduce them to him by showing him how easy they can be to prepare.

               Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

     Peel and Dice into 1 1/2 inch cubes: Be careful as these and rutabaga are very hard and difficult to get the first few cuts thru.






  

 Add to water and bring to boil: Make sure water covers all of the potatoes.

Boil for 10 min or until fork tender
Strain and add to bowl
Add 1 stick butter or Margarine (8tbsp)

Mash : This is the tool I use but if you like yours smooth by all means use and electric beater.

Add salt to taste



   This batch served about 8.


Note for everyone. This is how I make my potatoes, rutabaga, and sweet potatoes. We love our mashes to have lumps but this will also work if they are whipped.

This makes great "frosting" for my Meatloaf Cupcakes!

Meatloaf Perz Style!

I love meatloaf! I used to ask for it for my birthday every single year. Finally I learned how to make it and surpassed what I had grown up with.  My recipe is extremely simple, everything is simple things you should be able to get at any grocery store, and its moist!
    I started making my recipes with pictures for my youngest brother who lives in another state and missed my cooking. This is one of the many that I have sent him so far. I hope you enjoy it!

                  Sianna's Meatloaf









2 lb of Ground Beef or Turkey (Worcester sauce to make it more beefy when using turkey)
2 Eggs
1/4 c Parmesan
1/2-3/4 cup breadcrumbs (Start with 1/2 c.)
Spices- whatever you like!
Ketchup

Put meat into the bowl and add everything but the ketchup on top. Mix well until it holds together. Use the extra 1/4 c breadcrumbs if it isn't holding together well.

Divide into 6 equal portions and form into small loafs. 

Spread Ketchup on top.

Bake at 350 for 30 min or cooked all the way thru.





Let sit in oven with temp off for 5 min.

            This recipe will serve 12 people depending on how generous you are with your meatloafs.
  Personally I don't like a large loaf but if you were to do this as one loaf I suggest you forgo the loaf pan and free form the shape. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. 

 My plate when all was said and done. I had two portions of meat that night, steamed green beans tossed in a few herbs and light butter, and mashed sweet potatoes!

                                          My little guys plate! He loved the supper :)

Side note for my thrifty shoppers looking for a easy and cheap meal. I find my turkey for anywhere from .99-1.49 a pound and do NOT buy it for more than that. This recipe in total for 12 people cost around $10.00. That is less than a dollar per person! Plus you will have the staples for next time and all it will cost you is the meat. Normally I make my own breadcrumbs but my wonderful husband did some shopping for me and I asked for bread to make crumbs and got a container of crumbs :)

Cupcakes for Dinner!!!

Yes that's right I said cupcakes for dinner! Do you have a super picky eater, or how about one who hates veggies, better yet do you have that special birthday dinner coming up and you want something super cute?

    One night while I was trying to decide what to make for supper it hit me! I have seen pictures and always said that I had to make them so why not now. Meatloaf Cupcakes!


    My recipe starts with a basic one pound meatloaf recipe. (Here is my recipe!)

     You will also need a cupcake pan (6cups) I had a texas size cupcake pan on hand so mine are bigger in the posted pictures.
      Separate the meat into 6 sections.
     Spray cupcake pan with non stick spray
     Put the meat mixture into each of the cups
     Top with ketchup if you want to

        
     Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked (mine took a few minutes more)

     Take out cool for a few minutes. Set on paper towels to soak up a little grease.

              Meanwhile make up a batch of your favorite mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabaga... What ever you prefer! ( I am thinking next time I make these I might just make a mash of potatoes and puree peas for green "frosting".
                  I made both reg potatoes and sweet potatoes for the batch pictured!
     Take your potatoes and scoop, pipe, or spoon it on top to make the "frosting".

       *Optional* Add small cut up veggies as the "sprinkles". I used peas and carrots!

                 

  My little Guy LOVED his Cupcake.

Cottonball Santa Countdown

When I was younger we did these in school and I have done them with my kids. Don't mind my "art" I had my 10mo old helping.

Materials: Paper Plate
                 Construction Paper (red and white)
                 Paint for the face
                 Cotton Balls X26
                 Glue
                         
              Step one:  Cut a triangle out of the red paper a strip for the hat out of white and a half oval out of white for the beard.

              Step two:  Cut paper plate edge off to make a flat circle.

             Step three: Glue hat and beard onto circle. 
              Step 4: Print numbers 1-25 on beard and add a fluffed cotton ball to the top of the hat.

              Step 5: Paint on face (yes my face looks cartoonish but my son LOVED the face.

 

Starting December 1st we add one fluffed cotton ball to the number that day is. Number 25 is Christmas!!!

Mini ABC Pillows

These came to fruition when I wanted something other than blocks for the ABC's. I hate stepping on blocks and hurting myself. I wanted something that my youngest could play with that wouldn't hurt if I so happened to step on it, nor would it break. I also wanted something that I could use later on to teach the alphabet and spelling. So this is what I came up with.

                   Mini ABC Pillows

Materials: 
  2 prints each piece 6"x16"
  Letter templates
  Ribbon (optional)
  Coordinating thread
  Polifill
  Needle

Pick two prints that coordinate yet will not get lost when on top of each other.
For each print you will need to cut out two pieces that are 6"x6" and one letter.

 Once you have all your fabric and letters cut out its time to put everything together.
First we will pin and zig zag the letters onto one piece of the 6"x6" fabric.

 Now you are going to put the two pieces of 6"x6" fabric right sides together and pin.

 If you want a ribbon loop this is the time to pin it in. I did as these pillows are being made so that they can hang onto a peg board later on down the road.

 Sew the square together leaving an opening to turn right side out. Clip the corners before turning.

  Turn right side out and fill with PoliFill

 The next step is to hand sew your opening closed and you have your pillow done!