Lila Potatoes

Since my life has taken a turn towards calm (whew, it was hectic there for a while), I have decided that you all will get to read about more food.  And since Beau and food pretty much make up my life, then I think it all makes sense!  So today I will share with you Lila Potatoes aka Potato Casserole.  Living in Kentucky has provided me with some great casserole recipes and this one....oh my.  I could eat it for days.  As an entree.  The Lila comes from the woman who originally provided the recipe to my mom, and so it's stuck in my family.  And it sounds so much classier than potato casserole.  Almost as classy as potatoes au gratin.

Lila Potatoes
1 bag or Ore-Ida frozen hash browns
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 24oz. container of sour cream
1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese
1 yellow onion (optional)
Corn Flakes
Butter

Thaw the hash browns and dump them into a large bowl with the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cheese, and chopped onion.  Mix well.  Pour into a greased casserole dish.

Crush about two cups of cornflakes and combine with about 4T. melted butter.  Layer the cornflakes on top of the potato mixture.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour.  The crispy topping is best fresh, so I would scrape it all off and eat it first.  And sorry I do not have a picture, I tend to destroy it too quickly.  And they freeze great completely assembled.

And just so you don't feel bad making this all for yourself one night for dinner, here are some tested tasty uses for leftovers:
    -base of a breakfast burrito
    -in a frittataaaaa
    -on an egg sandwich
    -on a bbq sandwich
    -as a snack

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

So in an attempt to replace the meaty queso at this year's Fourth of July Bash, I offered to bring a new dip.  It is a recipe from Noe that we consumed by the gallons in Florida this past spring.  And it's super easy.  And since it's made of veggies and such, a health conscious victory over beef and cheese. 

Black Bean & Corn Salsa
2 cans sweet corn (you can use fresh off the cob)
2 cans black beans
1 jar salsa of choice
1 red onion
1 lime
Cilantro

Rinse the beans and corn and dump into a bowl with the jar of salsa.  Finely chop the red onion and add along with the juice of a lime.  Give the cilantro a rough chop and add to the bowl.  Mix well and you're done!  This recipe is best made a day in advance - it's amazing when it has all been sitting and soaking.







And I promise one day I will stop using my awful BlackBerry camera for everything since it does not make food look as amazing as it does in real life and it's only because I am too lazy to plug in my real camera.

Daily Fluff

He loves a good car ride.

Meaty Queso

With the approach of the Fourth of July and my parent's annual bash, I thought I would share a recipe that has become a tradition at any party that involves drinking.  You will soon see why. 

Meaty Queso
1 lb. ground beef
1 block Velveeta
1 8oz. block Cream Cheese
Salsa
Frito Scoops

Cook the ground beef with taco seasonings and attempt to drain some of the fat.  This will kill you early enough as it is.

Chop the Velveeta and cream cheese into cubes and put in a microwaveable dish along with salsa and ground beef.  Microwave until melted.  You could probably do this entire thing in a crockpot.  But I don't have one of those.  Add salsa as you see fit.  I like a lot of salsa.  Serve with Frito Scoops (essential).  And then devour.  It is shockingly disgusting and delicious and addictive.

A New View

Last weekend, Stud's aunts and uncles hosted an amazing party at Churhcill Downs.  I think had it been Derby, we would have been on Millionaire's Row.  At least that's what my wristband told me.  The wristband gave me unlimited access to food and drink.  I tell you, dieting for a wedding is a breeeeze.  Especially when followed with Taco Bell for dinner.  Yeah!  Just one of the many perks of Millionaire's Row.  We had a huge suite and there were thirty of us in there and it never felt crowded at all.  There were plenty of TV's so we could watch the US lose to Ghana in the World Cup.  That defeat sent many people back to the bar.  Being up that high gave us a great view of the track.  You could see the horses as the came all the way around, not just the stretch like you can from most seats.  And we had AC - huge perk in this lovely KY summer humidity.  The party also made the twinsies come back in town (since their parents were hosting), and it is always fun to see them.  By the end of the day, people were cashing some tickets and winning money!  Stud and I did some bets together and we ended up with a successful trifecta and exacta.  We are such professionals.  Made up for my losing morning - I was only down $8 at the end of the day.  Pretty good if I do say so myself.  Winning is always better, but being out $8 after that great day - not too shabby.

Good day with great friends.  I was also toutured by Churchill Charlie.  It was awful.

And back to the track tomorrow for some more crawfish!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND TO EVERYONE!  I love this holiday.

Breakfast Pizza!

So the saga of pizza night continues!  The other night Stud and I made Breakfast Pizza.  My goal was a pizza I had at a local cafe called Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe which has the best food ever.  And they always have a pizza of the week and my favorite of theirs has been a breakfast pizza.  Or the one with blue cheese, figs, and bacon.  Whichever I can't decide.

Anyways, I tried in vain to remember the items on that pizza and I think I did an OK job.  I think their pizza had poached or soft boiled eggs - maybe something new to try next time.






Breakfast Pizza
1 dough ball (I really am going to try making my own one day)
Olive Oil
3 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs thyme
2 c. mozzarella
1/2 lb bacon
1 c. frozen hash browns
3 eggs
Parsley
Chives
Parmesan Cheese

Cook the bacon and chop into pieces and preheat the oven to 500 degrees.  Spread the dough out over a cookie sheet (that is covered in a coat of olive oil) and then spread a thin layer of olive oil over the dough.  Cover the dough with the chopped rosemary and thyme.  I personally think this combo makes everything better.  Cover the pizza with an even layer of mozzarella cheese.  I also might include some chopped yellow onion at this point.  I then put on a layer of hash browns, but I don't think they added much except bulk.  I bet roasted new potatoes would be WAY better.  For next time!  Then add the chopped bacon.  Cook the pizza for about ten minutes.  Remove the pizza from the oven and crack the eggs right onto the pizza.  Put the pizza back into the oven for another eight minutes.  When the pizza comes out of the oven, cover with the chopped parsley, chives, and grated Parmesan cheese. 

I cooked my eggs too long (ten minutes) so the yolks were not runny.  I think cooking them for eight minutes will leave the yolks deliciously runny and gooey all over the top of the pizza.

If/When I try this recipe again, I'll update with any changes/improvements!

Missing Missy

A little giggle for your morning...Missing Missy