The Move and Other Things

So when I enlisted a few years back I knew that I would be moving every couple of years. What I did not know was that after just a short while I would be married and then a year after that be being medically separated from the military.  Oh and guess what... our move, my separation, and David's graduation (causing our move) all fall within a week of each other. So needless to say, I am feeling a little stressed the last couple of days.

Don't get me wrong, I am excited as well.  Our move is completely cross country! However, it is a long one and actually going to take 3-4 months to complete. But once it is over and we are settled into the new area, we will get to enjoy knowing that we are some where as "permanent"- well as permanent as any place is for a military family.

I know that with in a couple of more weeks this will all be over, but as I sit here and look around our small apartment I am reminded of all that still needs to be accomplished. :( With that being said, this is going to be a short post, as I pick myself up off the couch and get to work. 

Oh and I have a list of great shops lined up for a new launch of Featured Fridays this Friday.

Long Time No See....

WOW!!! I could have swore it has only been a couple of weeks since I last posted, but I see it has actually been just shy of a month! Needless to say things have been pretty busy around here.  My Med Board came back early and that sent us into a frenzy, so to speak.  Since it came back early we are moving early, which is both good and bad and kind of bitter sweet.  This week I have been contacting movers for the big cross country trek- California to Georgia (I think). Now we could always use the military movers for this job, but they are already booked till July on our base and we don't have orders yet.  So we decided to cut to the chase and do it ourselves (well kind off).  So  unfortunately over the next little bit my blogging might be a little sporadic. We leave California in 5 weeks and then will be going to Texas for about 3 months-ish.  Then finally we should arrive in Georgia (I think... where are those orders at!!!!) around October or November.

In the last few weeks though I have found some AMAZING recipes, a few GREAT shops to share, and have sewn some really cute nursing covers and car seat strap covers. So my goal is next week to get back into the blogging rhythm and share my new finds.

If you get a change go check out my new stuff.  There are more nursing covers and strap covers to come soon. . . lots of projects in the work right now.
http://www.zibbet.com/OnMommysApron 

Dear Mr. Officer

Dear Mr. Officer,

I understand that most everyone in our building is military and we are all up early. However, need I remind you of the set up of our building. While you may have one of the two first floor apartments, the rest of us live on the second floor, and all of the parking is directly under our units. So when you decide to start and rev up your motorcycle at 2:55 A.M., and then race around the block only to come back in and park two minutes later.  It is rather annoying.  I think I jumped two feet out of bed with all the racket, not to mention I was unable to return to sleep. To top it off it was my day off, and even if it wasn't my day off I would still be annoyed to be woken ten minutes before my alarm was set to go off.  0300 comes sooner then most people would think.

Further more, I just heard more noise outside and it appears you are moving.  While I see TMO is moving you, they are blocking the drive.  No one in the building can get in or out.  Seeing that it took them ten minutes to park the UHaul because the drive is so narrow and on a hill, I do not think they are going to be very pleasant about moving it later.  Not to mention there is a giant sign saying "DO NOT BLOCK THE DRIVE" and "NO PARKING".  I understand this is not your fault, but due to my heart stopping, rather abrupt wake up from this morning, this is kind of like the icing on a nonexistent cake.

No disrespect intended. You have always seemed pleasant in the past so the last six hours have thrown me for a loop. I am also a little anxious today.  My monthly visit from my favorite aunt is late but the stick is still negative, and I would REALLY like it to not be negative for once.   

Anyways, I digress.  Good luck at your next duty station.

Featured Friday!

Okay so it has been a couple of weeks since I featured a shop, but I am aboslutely sure you will love this weeks Zibbet shop!

Sky Jewelry

 

They specialize in beautiful, handmade, jewelry from beads, sterling silver, and gold. They have something beautiful for everyone, and all of the jewelry is very reasonable priced, which is always a plus. They also offer free shipping to the US and Canada! Everyone should stop by and take a look at this fabulous shop. Here are some more of their items....

  

Go take a look!

 

Grilled Shrimp!

Well its not Monday, but Tuesday is a pretty close alternative. If only in the respect of it being still early in the week. I was looking through some of my favorite recipes and this one came across, probably because we have had this a lot recently with my husbands mouth being sore from his wisdom teeth removal.  So for this weeks recipe we have Grilled Shrimp. . . I use a table top George Foreman grill.

So for starters gather the following ingredients, feel free to make substitutions for what ever you have or don't have on hand.

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1-1/2 cloves garlic, minced (I cheat and use garlic powder)
1-1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached (I sometimes cheat here too and remove the tails for ease of eating later)
skewers

Now that you have all of your ingredients, mix them in a large mixing bowl. Next add the shrimp in, mix, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and place bowl in the fridge for 2 hours.

After this time has passed, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and start placing the shrimp on the skewers, running the skewer from the head area and the area above the tail. Next place the skewers on the grill. While they are on the grill feel free to brush the remaining maranade on them.

After they have been on the grill for 2-3 minutes turn the skewers over. The shrimp should no longer be the grayish white color, but should be a nice pink color.

 
After another 2-3 minutes remove from grill and enjoy!

***Warning*** Shrimp is easy to over cook, which makes it tough and chewy. Watch your shrimp carefully. If the grill is very hot or the shrimp are small they will be done in less time.  Shrimp is done when they are pink.

Happy Eating!

Next week homemade soft pretzels... I think this recipe gives Auntie Anns a run for her money.

Thoughts on Going Back to School

Now or later? Online or in class? What if we finally get pregnant... would I stay in school or quit and have this conversation with myself again later? These are just some of the many questions floating around my head right now. 

I could move early to attend school in an actual classroom, but then I would be without my wonderful husband for a semester. I could wait and just go back to school next spring, but then if I was to be (finally) pregnant that probably wouldn't work either. Would I want to start school, start a family, quit school, and then start again later?

Then there is the question of motivation... Last time I was in school I got really burned out, and then spending time studying Arabic at DLI turned my brain to mental mush.  Do I even really want to go now? I know that it would definitely be easier before we have a family, but is my brain really ready to commit to that again?

Who knows what I'll do.  At least I have a month or two to decide; although its probably the sooner the better. Just some things to consider...

Irish Cream Chocolate Cheesecake

Oh my goodness "wonderful" and "amazing" do not even begin to describe this cheesecake.  I will definitely be making this one again and again.

But before we get started here are some easy tips to keep your cheese cake from cracking.
1. Bring all cold ingredients to room temperature
2. Thoroughly grease and flour your pan
3. Place a broiler pan full of boiling water on the rack below the cheesecake in the oven.

***WARNING***

Although this cheesecake will be one of the best you have ever eaten, it takes several hours to make. :(  So don't wait until an hour before company comes to pop it in the oven.

Okay, I think we are ready.  So as usual gather all of your ingredients. For this cheese cake you will need:

For the cheese cake                                  For the crust
3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese             1 1/2 cups of crushed oreos
1 1/4 cup white sugar                                  1/3 cup of powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder         1/3 cup coco powder
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour                 1/4 cup butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
   

Crust

Turn the oven on,  and preheat to 350 degrees . In a the mixing bowl add the oreo crumbs,  powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Then add the butter (its easiest if its melted) and stir until mixed. I found it was easier to use my hands, but that was extremely messy because of the coco/butter combo. When it is mixed, press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan (I didn't have a springform so I just used a regular 9 inch round, and it turned out fine. Its just a little harder to serve). Next, put the crust in the oven for 10 minutes. Take it out and put it in the freezer to cool off.  Now turn the oven up to 450 degrees F.   

**Tip** to grease and flour I sprayed the pan with crisco spray, then dropped a couple of tablespoons of flour in the middle and then rolled it around. 

Cheesecake Filling

1. Put all the cream cheese, white sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and flour in the mixer, and mix on medium until its smooth. Next add the room temperature eggs one at a time, mixing in between. Then, add the sour cream followed by the Irish cream liqueur (I used Bailey's), and continue mixing on low speed until its blended nice and well.  Finally pure the filling on top of the crust (get it out of the freezer now).

2. Put the cheesecake in the oven (with the broiler pan of boiling water below), and bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes is up, turn the oven down to 250 degrees F, and bake for another 60 minutes. 

3. Turn the oven off, but DO NOT REMOVE THE CHEESECAKE. Leave the cheesecake in the closed oven for 6-8 hours (or overnight). After you wait this ridiculously long time you can remove your cheesecake from the oven.


4. Take a knife and loosen around the edges of the cheesecake.  Gently remove the rim of the pan. Then stare at your beautiful dessert in awe of your handy work, after this, place your cheesecake in the fridge to chill before you serve it.

***NOTE***

If somehow after all of your precautions your cheesecake manages to crack.  You can dampen a spatula with warm water and gently smooth over the top, and then sprinkle with more oreo crumbs.... you may want to do this even if it doesn't crack just so you can have oreo crumbs on top (I know there just isn't enough chocolate in this recipe to begin with).

ENJOY!!!!

 

Here is my piece!

 

Post Falure :(

What to do, when what you were going to do fails? If you have the answer, please let me know. haha For yesterdays post, I was planning on sharing my favorite, no fail, homemade sugar cookie recipe.  It is simply the best, and also very simple.  However, for the first time in the dozens of times I have made these cookies, I made some mistake.  They were rock hard! I know it was me and not the recipe, because they are always PERFECT! I mean technically I could have gone ahead and iced them and said "look at these beautiful Easter cookies", but that just seemed wrong.  So then plan B was to remake them today, but (and here is my rant for the day) I had to drive 2.5 hours to the nearest military hospital to get some blood drawn. We got there, I got poked, got complimented on my veins (apparently they're beautiful... weird but not the first time I've heard this), and then we headed back home.  All fine and good except for we hit the morning commuters, and then got stuck in more traffic after that.  Apparently a big rig carrying diesel hit the center median and caught fire, then went BOOM. So needless to say the highway was shut down and I spent an hour just sitting on the highway. (Don't worry the driver made it out okay).  It took me almost 5 hours to make a 2.5 hour drive.  :( So I am forgoing the cookie recipe for the week. My DH is having his wisdom teeth taken out Thursday, so tomorrow I am going to make an Irish Cream Chocolate Cheesecake that he will be able to eat... eventually... if there is any left. Anyways, that is my rant/story/excuse for the day.  Maybe I'll share the cheesecake with you all tomorrow!

OnMommysApron 

New Items !!!

Today I thought I would feature my own shop. I have been creating new items and recently switched my store to a different site.  So here are my latest items in my new store!

Nursing Covers!!!!

Both of these are double sided, but I have single sided ones that will have a terry cloth corner on the under side coming soon.  I am also thinking of including with all the cover orders a matching drawstring bag that the cover can go in so it won't be sprawled out inside the diaper bag... what do you all think? I don't have babies yet... Is this something you think would get used or would it be a waist of time to make? 

 

Baked Potato Pouches

Both of these are "Personal" sized they will hold up to 2 potatoes, but today or tomorrow I'll have up "Family" sized ones that will hold 4. These are also great for steaming veggies! Pop a couple of potatoes in these, throw it in the microwave, and in 4-6 minutes you have a hot, steaming baked potato!

Throw Pillow Cover

So this is the only pattern I have up now but I am thinking of doing a couple more patterns and in my next ones putting zippers in on the bottom edge instead of the snaps, so the pillow cover can be two sided as well.

Well that is most of my new stuff, but please come by and check out my new store on Zibbet, this is where I will be posting all of my items from now on.

http://www.zibbet.com/OnMommysApron

Also don't forget that I have a Mother's Day Sale going on just use coupon code: MOTHERSDAY

Easy Shop Banners For Mac Users

So I have recently found the easiest, quickest way to make a simple shop banner using my Mac.  I was so excited, because for some reason I did not think it could be done easily.  However, using this method I have been able to create a Zibbet Shop Banner an Etsy Shop Banner in no time at all!!! So I am going to show you how as well. You are going to be just as excited I'm sure.

1. First you are going to need to make sure you have the following programs:

1. iPhoto

2. Pages

3. Preview

You can check to make sure you have these applications by going to the finder or you might have an applications folder on your dock (they should all be in there).  On my computer I already had iPhoto and Preview, but I did not have Pages.  If you are like me, you might not have pages already installed on your Mac.  Don't worry though you can go to the apple store, and get a 30 day free trial!!! So you don't have to pay anything. NOTE: after your 30 day trial the program will still open but you wont be able to save anything until you purchase the program. So once you download the program get to work!! Although, I like it so much I am considering paying for it so I can keep using it after the trial is up... just a side note haha.  

2. So now you have all of the neccessary programs.  Open up I photo and select the photo of choice for your background.  Once you have picked out the lucky photo,  I like to duplicate it in case I mess it up. To do this click the photo, the on the tool bar up top click photos, the click duplicate. There, now you have two.  Next, click the copied photo then, click edit, then click crop. Next the cropping window will pop up.  Now you need to check constrain. Once you have done that in the left box type in 640 (for Zibbet) or 720 (for Etsy) and the type in 120 (for Zibbet) or 100 (for Etsy). DON'T HIT APPLY. In the background you will notice a highlighted area on the picture. Move this area around until you have it highlighting the part of the picture you want to use.  Once you are happy with this click apply. Next if you want, you can play around with different effects to get the look you want. When you are finally finished click done. Next you need to export.  So click File then Export. Now change "kind" to JPEG, the "Quality" to High. Next change "Size" to Custom, then Max change to "Width" of 640 (for Zibbet) or 100 (for Etsy), then change "File Name" to "Use File Name". Then hit "Export".  Finally choose where to save the file (I normally choose the desktop so its easy to find).  

3. Now that you have the photo in the shape of your banner. Open up pages.  Once it is open choose blank canvas. Once this opens click the blue inspector button (mine is in the upper right hand corner of the page).  Next click document and uncheck the headers and footers. Now you can close the inspector if you want.  Now that that is finished drag your banner into your blank document.  Click Text Box and one should pop up on your document somewhere.  Once inside of your text box you can change the font, color, and size on the tool bar at the top of the page.  You can re-size the text box and move it around.  Have fun make it yours.  If you want more fonts or don't have any you like you can go to dafont to find more.  Make sure you aren't violating any copy rights though, so read before you download.  Once you are happy with how your banner looks you need to group everything together into one object.  To do this click an item and hold the command key down as you continue clicking objects until you have successfully clicked all of them.  Once you have done this you need to click arrange (its on the very top tool bar of the screen) and then click group.  If you change your mind later you can always go back and hit the ungroup. Finally go to the very top tool bar again and click edit and then click copy. Yay!!! you are almost finished. Only one more step to go.

4. Now that you have your completed banner you need to open the last app. Preview.  When you click to open this app. nothing happens, but you will notice that the top tool bar now says Preview instead of Pages.  When it says Preview, click file, then click New From Clipboard.  Now it will open your banner in the Preview app.  Now go back to the top tool bar and click file, then save as... When the save as window opens up type your file name in the "Save As" box.  Select your location to save it in the "Where" box, then in "Format" click JPEG then in "Quality" slide the cursor over to Best. Then click Save.  Congratulations!!! You have now finished your banner and can upload it to Zibbet or Etsy or wherever else you need it. 

I have read and re-read this to make sure I didn't leave out any steps or type something in wrong, but if it doesn't work for you or you realize I left something out please email me onmommysapron@gmail.com so I can edit this little tute.

Also, Don't forget Mothers Day is only a couple of weeks away.  You can use coupon code: MOHTERSDAY at htt://www.zibbet.com/OnMommysApron, and you will save 10% off of your Mothers Day order.  We are also having free shipping on all of our aprons.  So take a look and let me know if there is anything else you would like to see.

Shops of the Week!!!!

 Featured Shop!!!

Bradens Grace

 

 This shop sells chalkboard labels in all shapes, sizes, and a variety of purposes.  I think this is genius!!! But maybe I am a little partial to the idea right now because I am having the hardest time finding canisters that I like and have the wording that I want. haha 

I like these to... Table Signs!!!

Wall Art Chalk Board Style!!!!

Check out these other great Etsy items.  These are just some of the many great shops on Etsy.  If you do not shop there already, I highly recommend it. There are tons of outstanding, quality, handmade items available. Or if you are a crafter, they have tons of shops that sell supplies for whatever it is that you are working on.

Mad Little Hatter

 

 

Dell Cove Spices

LJL Designs Stationary

Lakeside Sewing & Boutique

Zimikas Treasure Trove

Crazy Animals :)

So for a bit of fun today.  I thought I would share a couple of interesting animal photo's (well just 2) that I took while I was out and about in the last week. 

The first should be introduced by saying where I live there are many deer.  They are everywhere, and because of this they really do not notice the human population much any more.  With that being said here is photo #1. 

The all of the deer used the crosswalk!!! Well I guess they have learned something SAFETY FIRST!

Ok for my second interesting photo all, I'll say is this guy walked right up to the car yesterday morning, when I was waiting out side the hospital to go home. I saw a ton of rabbits running around but couldn't get any decent pictures :(

Ok well that is all I have today.  These gave me a good smile. Hoped you enjoyed them to.

A Monday Meal- Calzone

Its Monday and the start of a new week.  (Thank goodness last week was loooonnnnggggg!!!!!) So in celebration of a fresh start I am going to share a favorite recipe in my house... the calzone.

First- Gather Your Ingredients. 

1 cup hot water (110 degrees), 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp active dry yeast, 2-3 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp dried basil

Second- Ready The Yeast

I put the water, sugar, and then the yeast in my kitchen aid mixer.  Then wait for it to get all nice and bubbly

Third- Add The Rest

Next add the basil and 2 cups of flour. Then mix with the dough hook. Now here is where it might get tricky for some.  After you get everything all mixed in touch the dough.  If it is very sticky you need to add a bit more flour.  After you add flour turn the mixer back on.  After its mixed stop it and touch it again. It should be moist to the touch but not sticky enough to get stuck to you. 

Fourth- Cover and Let Rise

When dough is double in sized. Punch it down and recover. Let rise again until it is double in size again.

Fifth- Roll It Out

Put a couple of tbsp of olive oil on your baking dish of choice and roll out the dough, either circle or rectangle works just fine.

Sixth- Add Topings

You are only going to put toppings on half of the dough. Once all the toppings are on the dough you are going to fold over the other half and press the edges to create the pocket.  When adding toppings I normally alternate a topping with cheese.  For ours I usually use ground sausage, pepperoni, ham, and salami.  Then for the cheese I use mozzarella, extra sharp cheddar, and occasionally crumbled goat cheese. I also like to add a little garlic powder to the top and a little melted butter.  

Seventh- Bake

In a preheated oven bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes depending on the thickness of your dough.  It will be a nice golden brown color when it is finished.  

A bad attempt. What can I say I was in a hurry this night :(

Eight- Enjoy

Kind of self explanatory but remove from the oven, cut into pieces, and eat!

    

    Happy Eating!!

New Fabric!!!

Every time I get new fabric I get sooooo excited.  I can't help my self but go crazy thinking of all the possibilities!!! So I thought I would spread around my excitement, and show you some of my latest fabric.  Its not much, but enough to spread a big smile across my face... 

The first set... drum roll please....

The second set!!!!

Ok like I said they're not much, but think of the possibilities!!! I think the blue flower print is going to be aprons with yellow sashes and bias tape, and I think yellow flower print is going to be you guessed it aprons with the stripe print being the trim... and off course there will have to be matching oven mitts and pot holders.  I just had an epiphany... maybe, just maybe, I might even make a Mommy and Me set out of the blue flower print.  Only one problem... I make my own patterns and I don't have any kids to get measurements from :(  Hhmm looks like I will be on the look out for children to borrow.  I need models.    

Amazing Etsy Items!

So today I thought I would take sometime to spotlight a new etsy shop,

THE BATH FACTORY 

The Bath Factory opened on Etsy last month and they have an array of homemade soaps and scrubs.  I personally love their rock soap (it looks like candy), and Herbal Bath Tea!

All of their items are absolutely adorable, and perfect for that relaxing evening or maybe even a romantic weekend.



OTHER SHOPS & ITEMS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

Mellow Mermaid Vintage Marketplace

Hello Again Vintag

Mona Abraham

Dell Cove Spice Company

Mona's Box & Bags

 

 

Chrissy's Creation

Kailey Marie

And They Call It Patience

Normally, I would consider myself a fairly patient person.  Normally, I do not mind waiting.  I know that things will happen when they are supposed to happen, and anxiously waiting is not going to help anything. However, recently I have developed a problem... Patience.  It seems that mine is lacking as of late, and it also seems to me that life is requiring me to be patient quite a lot lately.  The worst part... it is not stuff that is easy to patiently wait for.
 
I have no problem being patient for simple things like waiting all week for the weekend to FINALLY arrive, or going on a much needed vacation or something super simple like waiting until the cookies are out of the oven .  I wait through simple things with a calm, cool head. However, patiently waiting for the big things lately has seemed like torture! (I know this is probably an over exaggeration, but its how it feels for me) 

You see my husband and I would love to get pregnant, and we have been trying for what feels like forever! On the realistic side it has only been like 5 months, but when everywhere I look I see happy pregnant women, and other couples who have just had a baby it gets really hard to wait.  Part of the time I am very patient.  I patiently wait every month for the OPK to turn positive, and then I patiently wait the for the next 2 weeks hoping and praying that Aunt Flo will not come and that I'll get those 2 blue lines.  However, month after month (for the last 5 anyways) they crazy lady arrives leaving me feeling disappointed.  That is where patience is hard and feels torturous.  Don't get me wrong. I know there are couples out there who try for years and my heart goes out to them.  I know that if any of those women read this post they might think "5 months that is nothing. I have been waiting for years!".  I get that in the big picture of things 5 months is not all that long, but when you finally get to the point and decided to have a baby you want one now! haha  Not to mention, at what point does 5 months of waiting turn into 2 years?  This is just one of the things that I am not very patient with lately.

The second thing that has been messing with my patience I am active duty military.  Which is great, except for  I was diagnosed with moderate-severe asthma last year and have been undergoing a Medical Evaluation Bord Review (MEB) process since June of last year, and unfortunately the whole process takes forever. My board should be back soon, but it has been such a long year waiting for this decision.  Especially since I can not continue planning for my life until the decision comes back. 

I am sure if I thought more about it I could come up with at least half a dozen other examples of my lack of patience, but I know not digging up things that are sure to bother me, things that I can not speed up or control is the way to go.  After all if my lack of patience is not driving me crazy with something it probably means I am being patient in that particular area.  I know I'm not alone in this. EVERYONE struggles with patience at sometime or another. It is after all a virtue, and unfortunately easy things do not get that label.

A Monday Meal-Chicken Wings & Mashed Potatoes

So for the first "official" post I thought I would share a popular recipe in my house... chicken wings! Who doesn't love chicken wings? Wait and not just chicken wings but also a quicky on mashed potatoes!!! YAY!

So We Begin...

1. Gather Ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees... 

Should look something like this...

1tsp. Garlic & Onion Powder, 3 tbsp. Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper to taste. 

Chicken Wings! (About 10 party wings and thighs)

 2. Put the ingredients from the first picture in the ziplock bag with the chicken in it, and SHAKE! Have fun with it ... do a dance if you want. Come on when was the last time you had an excuse to dance around your kitchen shaking a bag of chicken? (There is hardly any clean up. That itself is worthy of a dance.) It should also be noted that you can add 2tsp. of chili powder for added kick. 

3. Line a baking dish with aluminum foil and place chicken in dish.

Okay, Okay the aluminum foil isn't necessary, but helpful for a quick cleanup. 

4. Place in oven for about 45 minutes-1 hour

Find something else to occupy your time (if your making a side dish or two now is a good time). I like mashed potatoes, so thats what I did.

5. Peal 4 or 5 potatoes and place in boiling water 

(Warning! With this recipe you must taste as you go along as measurements are rough estimates!) When you can easily stab the potato with a fork, they're done. Drain water.

6. Gather ingredients. 

3 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp. butter, 1tbsp. sour cream, 1/2 tsp. garlic and onion powder, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, and a smidge of salt and pepper

7. Select masher of choice.

For ease and time I went with the electric beater.  

8. Add ingredients and start mashing!

I always start small and add more as I taste and see that its missing something.  So I would recommend starting with 3 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp. butter, 1tbsp. sour cream, 1/2 tsp. garlic and onion powder, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, and a smidge of salt and pepper. After you get everything mashed in, taste it.  If it is to stiff add a little more milk or butter.  If the flavor isn't quite as flavorful as you would like it add a little more spice to it.  Cooking is a creative experience! If you don't have garlic or onion powder don't worry about it use some other spice your think will taste nice.  If it doesn't work, oh well you learned for next time.  The important thing is to have fun and try.  You will never learn if you don't occasionally go out on a limb.

9. Remove from oven when cooked all the way through. 

Place on plate along with sides and enjoy!

 

Next weeks recipe... Homemade Calzone! 

Don't forget to "like" On Mommy's Apron on Facebook, and to stop by the Etsy Store.

Happy Eating! 

from On Mommy's Apron