Greek Potatoes

We had a vegetarian feast last weekend
to celebrate our friends new born girly
I didn't have my camera
but the food was
a.m.a.z.i.n.g
I had my friend send me
her recipe for the Greek Potatoes
they are so so good

Here is her original vegetarian version
keep reading to see my changes
for a non vegetarian version

8 large potatoes, peeled, cut into large wedges
4-8 cloves garlic, minced - the more the better
1/2 cup olive oil
2 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp oregano
1/3 cup lemon juice
sea salt
fresh coarse ground black pepper
4-6 tbsp vegetarian 'chicken' seasoning
-if using real chicken broth then substitute it for some of the water

I used a lot of garlic
yum

here is the garlic
grape seed oil
lemon juice
and oregano

chopped potatoes
salt and pepper

I used a can of chicken broth
and enough water
to equal 2 1/2 cups of liquid

mixed together
into the pan
and into the oven
at 400 for 40ish minutes
then stir to brown the underside
if more water is needed
add a small amount
cook an additional 20 minutes

these are amazing
and so easy
I served with some
BBQ Souvlaki Chicken
and a salad

go forth
eat Greek
potatoes that is

Baked Fries

I'm not sure to
what to tell you
I fell behind
in my posting
during our sick week
and now I'm lazy

so here is a fast
little throw together
for the 4 of us

2 Yukon potatoes
cut into the
fry shape you like best
salt & pepper
garlic salt
onion salt
Parmesan cheese
grape seed oil


toss is all together
get all the pieces
coated nice with
all the goodness


place parchment paper
on the baking sheet
lay the fries out evenly

Bake at 400
stirring a few times
until they are done
to the crispness that you enjoy


add the ketchup
and enjoy

Harvest Mashed Potatoes

I named these
Harvest Mashed Potatoes
I figure people might
eat orange mashed potatoes
if they had a nice name

Harvest Mashed Potatoes

Yukon Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Garlic

Butter
Sour Cream
Fine Grated Parmesan Cheese

peel and cut the potatoes
I cut them into smaller pieces
so they will cook faster
smash the garlic
cover all of this
with water or stock
and boil until
the pieces are fork tender

once cooked - drain
add a generous amount
of butter
a generous amount
of sour cream
and a generous amount
of Parmesan cheese

mash it all together
until nice and smooth

top with some more butter
and some seasoning salt

I don't make a big heavy meal
to often
but my husband loves
a good roast beef
with mashed potatoes
and salad

the kids
love it to
after dinner
girly was still
eating potatoes
and my little man
was into the meat

BBQ Steak and Potatoes in December

What is better than
BBQ in December?
This steak was fantastic
and BBQ Potatoes
always good


I cut them up
with onions
well, I only had
1/4 of an onion today
I'm running low on veggies
and need to make
a run to Neufelds tomorrow


then I lay out
two pieces of aluminum foil
shinny side in
I double it because
if I don't
it always seems
to get a hole in it
I then liberally
add chunks of butter
and some seasoning salt


the steak
oh my
yum
make sure it's
room temperature
I added steak seasoning
then threw it on the BBQ
and left it alone
once the steak
no longer sticks to the grill
it's time to turn it over
don't mess with steak
don't stab it with a fork
use tongs, be nice
don't flip it more than once
my list of rules is long
but you will thank me
and it's worth it to
buy a good cut
so now that I'm done my speech
when it's the desired doneness
remove it
and let it sit for a bit
before you cut into it


complete goodness
the entire family
ate dinner
without anyone
being in a time out
Praise the Lord


girly may not
have eaten much
but she ate
and sat
for dinner
this is good
we were all in shock

I know
her pigtails are super cute
however
they involve lots
of screaming
and crying
I tell her
vanity is pain

of course
our dinner conversation
was centered
around dinosaurs
little man
is very intent
he likes his dinos


BBQ
it's always good

Randomcity

Today we had an incident
so dinner needed to
be easy and fast
enter
Cheater Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Always an easy dish
and always so good
no matter the vegetables
that you add in

dinner times at our house
have not been a happy event
girly
she is on a hunger strike
only at dinner time

she also feels the need
to get up out of her chair
as a result of not eating
and not sitting
she has been standing
in the corner
for the majority of dinner time
today however
it didn't seem to
bother her

my little man
had a run in
with our tonka cat
he closed the door
on tonka's tail
and mayhem ensued
the little man
has some scratches
but a big owie on his finger

the cat cut thru
his finger nail
into the flesh under it
and ripped across it
it is very sore
he's very sad
and it's still seeping blood
he's on bandaid number #2

Potato and Leek Soup

A cold, windy and snowy day
not much snow
just a bit blowing around
it was a soup day
I had this one
on my menu plan
for two weeks now
my leeks were not
looking happy in the fridge

I used the Kraft Canada
version of Potato and Leek Soup
as my starting point
but I thought it might be bland
so I added a few things

2 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil
4 Leeks white parts only,
cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6-7 medium sized potatoes
peeled and cubed
5 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt *
2 tsp fresh ground pepper *
2 tsp cumin *
2 tsp thyme *
2 tsp oregano *
1 tub cream cheese
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup real bacon bits *
* I've changed the amounts
or totally added a new ingredient

I used to find Leeks
intimidating
but really they are easy to use


you use the white part
and discard the rest
at least, that's what I do
if there is a use
for the green stalks
please let me know


when you slice them up
they are these cute little rings


because of how leeks grow
you really need to wash
them at this point
to remove the grit
I find my salad spinner
works wonderful


fill the bowl up with cold water
put the leeks in the strainer part
move them around
break them up
this will get the grit out


saute the leeks
in the grapeseed oil
again, I use the grapeseed
in place of extra virgin olive oil
because I like the taste better
you can use what you want


slice up your potatoes
add them in


add the water
the salt and pepper
and the extra yummy add ins
bring to a boil
simmer until the potatoes are tender


add to your blender
in batches
and blend well



add the cream cheese
try to add this
one tablespoon at a time
I ended up using a potato masher
to break it up better


I added more cumin
I love how it tastes
and added the bacon
yum yum
we served this up
nice and easy
cut veggies, cheese and crackers
the kids loved this
as did the parents




my kidlets were feeling better
and played with some potatoes
I just let it happen
it kept them happy