IT's MonDay........

Heres a redneck smoke alarm...jiffy pop popcorn...
I bought this little halloween painting from Stephanie of Fantastic Figments and look what else she put in her package to me...:) A nice thank you card and a little pouch that had this halloween pin and a set of earrings...I put those on right away..I love their simplicity and they will go with everything...I found her blog through wonders of whimsy and thought I would check it out..I am glad I did.. I can't wait to put up my painting next halloween and wear my pin..Thank you again Stephanie for the extra goodies...:)

here are two recipes that you must try..the one above is brussel sprouts and onions and garlic sauted in olive oil and 2 TBS of butter...

I cut up one onion and add it to a hot pan with olive oil..use enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan..You may need to use more as it cooks to keep everything from burning...maybe a 1/3 cup or more total..(it also depends on how much you make of this)..This is for 2 people..cut up about 15 brussel sprouts.(again depends on how many you are feeding)..removing the bottom and outer leaves..cut them like you did the onions..not too small but not large either...add butter and salt and pepper and sauted for about 20 minutes, with the lid on stirring occasionally (this will help carmelize everything if not stirred often just make sure it doesn't burn or stick to the pan....Tnis really adds to the flavor...you made need to add a little more olive oil..you will know if the pan is looking dry..

here are Parmesan Smashed Potatoes from the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

3 pounds of red potatoes, unpeeled

1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 2 teaspoons

1-1/2 cups half and half

1/4 pound (1 stick) of unsalted butter

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ground black pepper

Directions:

place the potatoes and 1 tablespoon of salt in a 4-quart saucepan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered 25-35 minutes until the potatoes are completely tender. Drain.

In a small sauce pan, heat the half and half and butter. Transfer the potatoes to an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix them for a few seconds on low speed to break them up. Slowly add the hot cream and butter to the potatoes, mixing on the lowest speed, (the last quarter of cream and butter should be folded in by hand). Fold in the sour cream, parmesan, the remaining salt and pepper, season to taste and serve immediately. If the potatoes are too thick, add more cream and butter..

Keep the potatoes hot in a heat-prood bowl set over simmering water.

* I added fat free half and half and garlic from the jar in the potatoes cause we love garlic and it really adds to the flavor. This is comfort food at its best and is always asked for when we have guests to visit...as well as the brussels...This is a must at our thanksgiving table...

Enjoy..:)

yesterday I played hooky from church...cause I went out and started raking the leaves and when I came in to get in the shower saw that I had been out longer then I thought...so I went back out and got rid of the leaves in the front yard..what a huge job that was...Mind you we don't have any maples or large trees in our yard, but we are surrounded by them on 3 sides....so since the neighbors won't take care of theirs...we have too..and it is a messy job..one I hate to do everyfall...but has to be done as I hate having my yard look a mess and it smothers plants etc...so I did the front and my DH did the backyard...he mowed them up and now it looks so much better..but there are a few more leaves hanging on...so will go out one more time when they are all done falling and get er done...man do my muscles ache from all that blowing and raking...wet leaves can get heavy....Well I am off to start my day of cleaning and crafting... have a great week...