Packet Potatoes

I made the most wonderful meal last night. I would like to see all of you making this because it was seriously out of this world! These potatoes I saw on The Pioneer Woman site, which I look at daily. I have never made anything from her that didnt turn out great. My dad used to make potatoes like this for the BBQ pit and they had similiar ingredients and he also topped them with parmesan cheese. The kicker for these potatoes is that you add heavy cream. When these babies are done cooking they have the most amazing creamy sauce. It has very simple ingredients so you can pretty much make them anytime. The chances are very good you will have all the stuff on hand. I have to say, these little pre cut foil pieces come in very handy if you happen to ever come across them at your local grocery store. I also made a delicious corn pudding and some mini meatloaves and I will post those tomorrow and Sunday.In each piece of foil is one potato, cubed, chopped onions, salt, pepper, chopped parsley (fresh would be best, but you know, you do what you gotta do) and some pats of butter.
Okay, now this is just the best part. I guess I poured about 1/4 cup over the top of each.

It wasnt soupy, but you could see it.

Sealed them up tight and cooked about 45 minutes. The end result is a creamy, wonderfully tender and flavorful side to any kind of meat!

Packet Potatoes

4 medium sized baking potatoes, cubed

1 cup onions, chopped

sprinkle of salt

sprinkle of pepper

chopped parsley to taste

1 stick of butter, divided into tablespoon sized pats

1 cup of heavy cream

Cut four squares of foil and place a cubed potato in each. Top with 1/4 cup onion. Add salt, pepper and chopped parsley to taste. Evenly distribute the pats of butter on the four potatoes. Pour 1/4 cup heavy cream over each. Seal up and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Apron Fashion Show

I wanted to show you all my aprons today before I post my planned recipes today. I'm not sure why, I think its because I am in love with my apron model. This is my baby Jena. My 16 year old baby. She very sweetly indulged me as I had her put on each of my aprons and let me take pictures of her. She even paused the movie she was watching. Gotta love her. The first one I am going to show you I received at my bridal shower 23 years ago from a dear friend. Its kind of worn but that just adds to the charm!

Look a little closer...Joan is usually not an easy name to find. This also had a pot holder to go with it but I am not going to show you that. Its very very worn and even has a smell about it.

This one I got in Canton, Texas at the trade day. A lady there had these and they are made by apronality. I posted about this in a previous post.This one I got at Target, it is almost like wearing a full party dress. It just feels good on. The skirt is nice and full and the colors are beautiful.
This one I ordered from Amazon.com. It is the basil polka dot. I first saw it on Sugar Pie Farm House. Please go check out her blog! You will fall in love with her and want to read the entire blog. Her house is fabulous but what you really want to look at is her pantry. It is the coolest pantry I have ever seen. She does a review on this apron and you have to watch it! I couldnt help but go straight to Amazon.com and order it! I especially love the ruffles!

Thank you so much Jena for being my awesome apron model!!! And also a big thank you to all of you reading this blog, I wish you all could come over for coffee!

Just a few things....

Hope everyone has had a great start to their week. Not a whole lot of cooking going on around here but I have been working in my back yard. Keep in mind, I am in Texas and this is not very encouraging. We have had NO rain! My husband and I went to a plant nursery in San Antonio not too long ago called The Rose Emporium. There is also one in Brenham, Texas but I have to say, I like the one in San Antonio better. They had a cute little potting bench that I thought would come in handy when I am starting seedlings or just repotting a plant. My husband took a picture of it and he actually made this for me. It looks EXACTLY like the one we saw that was $100. He made it for about $18. I am so pleased with how it turned out. He did such an awesome job!

I wanted to show you all this beautiful potato vine that I have in my backyard. My mother brought me the "potatos" to start a vine a couple of years ago and it was fun to watch it grow. It grows really fast! And it is just so beautiful and lush green (when just about everything else isnt). This fall it will start to put on little brown potatoes and when the first cold front comes in I just picked the potatoes and kept them until this spring until I planted them and watched this grow. Does anyone know anything else about his plant and maybe if they ever bloom?

I also found this at the grocery store yesterday. My picture is not too good but it is sweet and salty, glazed and roasted pecan pieces. They are old fashioned ice cream topping. It is made by B. Lloyds but Paula Deen is on the front. Usually if she has anything to do with it, it is going to be good! I cant wait to try these, I thought they may be good on a salad too!

Bar B Que Meatballs

Its been awhile since I have been on here again but I think about this blog and all of you all the time. We just had a great weekend down at the coast for the 4th of July and last week I worked alot of hours. As a result of all this crazy busy-ness I havent been able to cook! I sure do miss it. I made this recipe a month or so ago and finally took pics. This recipe is a favorite of all of ours. I read about it on The Pioneer Woman site awhile back and I have made it a few times. Ree, the pioneer woman, calls it comfort food to the max and is she ever right! The flavor of this is incredible. It is great with a side of creamy mashed potatoes. It is also great leftovers, if you happen to have any. Please try this, you will love it. This first pic is actually of the ingredients you need for the sauce that you will pour over it after you put together the meatballs and before you cook it.
You can go ahead and mix this together while you are preparing the meatballs. It will give the sauce and chance to "marry". I always thought that was a funny term for cooking, but I think it helps when this sauce can sit and mingle. This touch of sweet and savory sauce is what makes this dish so tasty!

Mix up your meat mixture. It is ground beef, oats, milk, minced onions, salt, pepper. So easy!

Shape into balls and place in your freezer.

After freezing them for about 5 minutes, dredge in flour and brown in canola oil.

Place in your baking dish and pour the sauce over all of them.

Bake for 350 for about 45 min. These things are absolutely amazing.

BAR B Q Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 cup oats
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons minced onion
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
plenty of ground black pepper

Sauce
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons worcestershire
4-6 tablespoons minced onion
Dash of tabasco

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together for the sauce and set aside. Combine meatball ingredients. Roll into medium sized balls and place on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Remove from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour. Brown meatballs in canola oil and place into a baking dish. Spread sauce evenly over the meatballs and bake for 45 minutes.

Your entire family will love these, I guarantee it. I know its summer and its hot but sometimes we need to feed our soul with some comfort food. On a different note, please pray for rain. We are really drying up down here in south Texas. I worry for the farmers and for the animals!