Amish Homecooking -- Potato Bars

Have any leftover potatoes from the big turkey day?  

Cook them up and mash with butter to make this wonderful Amish dish. 

Hot, buttery mashed potatoes are topped with a barbecue meat mixture, sprinkled with cheese and drizzled with ranch dressing. 

 

Amish Potato Bars (printable version)

Ingredients:

10 medium potatoes -- cooked, mashed and seasoned
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion -- chopped
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon mustard
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons ranch dressing

Directions:

Fry ground beef and onion until cooked through; drain.  Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, chili powder and mustard.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Spread hot mashed potatoes in the bottom of a cake pan and top with meat mixture.  Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with ranch. 

This dish is perfect for using up leftover mashed potatoes!

Christmas Idea -- Closet Tags

We celebrated Christmas with my sister and her family while they were visiting for Thanksgiving.  It was great to get a head start on Christmas shopping and it was also fun to open a few presents early!  

My sister gave me these adorable closet organizer tags that she printed from Living Locurto. 

These would make the perfect gift for all the ladies on your list or that hard to buy for friend or relative.  

You can go HERE to purchase the download.

So how's your Christmas shopping going...

Are you shopping for your last few gifts or are you just getting started?

New Button!

Add the new Tidy Nest button to your blog!

Grab it off the sidebar ====>

One Year Ago

More Pictures and Memories to Come...

I'm Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Fine China or Paper & Plastic

I am getting ready to host Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the fifth year in a row. Each year has been a wonderful and memorable experience and each year I have learned how to make the experience a little bit easier.  

One way I like to simplify is by using paper plates and napkins and plastic cups.  

This may seem like sacrilege to some, but for me this is just one way to cut my "kitchen time" and enjoy more family time. 

Do you have any tips or tricks to make the big day a success?

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheesecake Brownies

Click over HERE to try this yummy brownie recipe.  It is so easy to make and tastes wonderful.  

This will definitely take care of your chocolate sweet tooth!

I'm Linking Up Here...

Balancing Beauty & Bedlam

Kid's Christmas Idea

If you are looking for a cute kid's Christmas idea, head over HERE to Life in Grace where you will find a great tutorial to make a crayon roll.  

These are perfect to take in the car or to the doctor's office to keep little hands busy.

I made one for Drew and found the tutorial very easy to follow and only required straight stitching.  Perfect for a novice sewer like myself!

Drew was so excited to try out the crayons, as I usually only let him color with a pencil.  I quickly remembered why I've been avoiding crayons for so long...

Yummy!

Despite the little taste test, I'm sure he will enjoy hours of fun with his cute crayon roll.

I'm Linking Up Here...

 

Fall Wreath

My friend Hannah sent me this great idea for a cute fall wreath that she created.  

She used metal hanging frames that she purchased at a yard sale and inexpensive craft leaves from Michaels. 

Using hot glue she covered each frame with leaves, creating this adorable door hanger.

Using the same process with a flat frame from the dollar store, she made a miniature version.

If your are still in need of some frugal fall decorations give this little project a try.

I'm Linking Up Here...

Mr. & Mrs.

 I attended a bridal shower this weekend and ended up procrastinating until the last minute to come up with a gift.  I wanted to do something personal and unique and after a late night trip to Wal mart, this is what I came up with.

 Using the etching technique found here, I monogrammed the trifle dish.  For the coffee mugs I cut permanent vinyl using my cutting machine and Make the Cut software.  Super Easy!!

Stay Tuned...  I plan on posting a great wreath idea from a friend later this week.   

I'm Linking Up Here...