Waffle Sandwiches

• 8 large eggs
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 dash pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 8 whole frozen waffles
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and drained
• Maple syrup

1. In bowl, beat eggs, salt and pepper. In 9-inch skillet over medium heat, melt butter; add egg mixture. As eggs set, lift edges, letting uncooked portion flow underneath. When eggs are set, cut into 4 wedges.
2. Meanwhile, prepare waffles. For each sandwich, place one waffle on plate. Top with omelet wedge, two bacon strips and another waffle. Serve with syrup.

Makes 4 servings

Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

source: Quick Cooking

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces shredded mozzarella
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon seasoned salt
• 10 slices Italian bread
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

Directions:

1. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in cheese, garlic powder and seasoned salt.
2. I butter 5 slices and lay butter side up. Butter 5 more slices and put the butter sides together, then top the the top slice with the cheese mixture, about ⅓ cup on each.
3. When skillet is hot, separate the 2 butter sides and place slice with mixture butter side down in skillet, flip over the other slice and place on top. Cook over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

Serves 5

Monday's Dinner - Smoky Potato Cheese Soup

The original recipe can be found here:

Smoky Potato Cheese Soup

My variation:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 8 red potatoes, cubed
• 1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite size pieces
• 8 oz. mild Cheddar cheese
• 8 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese
• 2 (12 oz.) cans evaporated milk
• Pepper

Saute onion in margarine in large pot.

Add chicken broth, potatoes and sausage. Heat over medium high until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes.

Lightly mash potato mixture. Add cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Stir in evaporated milk. Season with pepper.

This was a wonderful soup for a chilly autumn day. All four boys loved it. My husband would like to try it in a bread bowl next time.

Tips from Schmiford's Bootcamp

Controlling the Laundry Monster

With 4 boys in the house, laundry piles up quickly. Here are some ways that we keep it from taking over. Each bedroom has it's own laundry tub. They may only bring it down on Mondays. If they forget and miss a Monday, they have to wear what is available (good for rotating clothing that doesn't get worn much because it's not a favorite) and when it does comes down the following Monday, I will wash and dry, but they must fold their clothing. Once they caught on, it didn't happen often (though we went 3 weeks once). I am usually able to get all the boys clothing finished in 1 day. On Thursday I do the house laundry - towels, bedsheets, and the hubby and I's clothing. I fold everything according to location and every week 1 boy is responsible for delivering the laundry. I also have 2 boys on sock and underwear duty. They have to fluff, match and put away each day laundry is done. We keep a small basket in the living room that I throw them in. This is great because I find socks to be very tedious.

More soup for dinner. Tonight's was a hot dog cheese chowder.

School Day Chowder
from Taste of Home Annual Recipes 2000

I was a little wary of this soup, but it really was very good. One of the creamiest cheese soups I've had in a long time. It should have been a quick dinner, less then 30 minutes. It took me much longer because I had to cut all the vegetables, but now I have plenty of extra in the freezer.

16 oz hot dogs, halved lengthwise and sliced (recipe calls for 8 oz, I missed that)
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 cups milk
8 ounces cheddar cheese

In large saucepan, combine first 6 ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour and pepper until blended. gRadually add milk. Bring to boil; cook and stir 2 minutes, until thickened. Add cheese; stir until melted.

Dinner Feb 18, 2010

Tonight's dinner was chili with a side of hash brown casserole. An odd combination, but I didn't have time to make the casserole the night I had it planned.

Slow Cooked Chili
from Taste of Home Annual Recipes Cookbook 1997

I'm not certain why, but I only bought half of the recipes. I was only planning on using half of the meat it called for to begin with to save some money. It still ended up being enough to feed all the boys. It had great flavor, I felt it was too meaty though. Next time I will use less meat or try stew beef instead. Another meal that was greatly simplified by having chopped onions and peppers in the freezer.

1 pound ground beef
16 oz can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
8 oz tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese

In skillet, brown beef; drain. Transfer to slow cooker. Add next 9 ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 8-9 hours). Garnish each bowl with cheese before serving.

Creamy Hash Brown Casserole
from Taste of Home Annual Recipes 1998 Cookbook

Although a strange accompaniment for chili, this was an incredibly tasty side dish. It was like eating butter. I've found that my mortar and pestle works wonderfully for crushing cereal for toppings like this recipe has.

32 oz package frozen Southern-style hash brown potatoes, thawed
16 oz Velveeta, cubed
10-3/4 oz condensed cream of chicken soup
16 oz sour cream
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoon chopped onion
2 cups cornflakes, slightly crushed
1/4 cup butter, melted

In large bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. Spread into greased 13x9-inch dish. Combine cornflakes and 1/2 cup melted butter; sprinkle on top. Bake, uncovered, in 350º oven for 50-60 minutes, until heated through.

Awesome uses for all those pesky containers. I was actually looking for a way to reuse the very large plastic bottles/jugs that I get with many of the snacks we buy at Sam's Club. I especially like the idea to use the domed drink containers for little greenhouses!

The Many Amazing Uses for Not so Disposable Plastic Containers
Most disposable plastic containers can be used 25 times before they fall apart. Learn how to lower your plastics consumption with creative reuse.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/571187/the_many_amazing_uses_for_not_so_disposable.html