Potato Casserole with Bacon and Chives

In our family we have an uncle we call "Uncle Buck." He earned this title during a vacation in which everything went wrong starting with hitting his head on the taxi upon arrival to waking up with chocolate left at the turn down service all over his face.

He happens to be the best person to take on a trip or introduce any new meal to as his most famous comment is, "this is the best thing I've ever eaten" or "this is the most fun I've ever had."

For this reason, we call this dish Uncle Bucks Famous Potato Casserole.  This is how it's made:

• 10 large russet potatoes
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream OR milk 
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 pound bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled 
• 3/4 pound mild Cheddar, grated (3 cups)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Peel and Boil the potatoes well and rinse under cool running water. When the potatoes have cooled place them in  potato ricer and "rice them" in a large bowl.  Add 1 stick of the butter, sour cream, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Add the bacon, green onions, and eggs and mix thoroughly.

Butter a 9 by 13-inch casserole with the remaining tablespoon of butter and reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.

Place the seasoned potato mixture in the prepared casserole and top with the remaining grated Cheddar. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and heated through and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. Serve hot.

If you want to try a casserole using mashed Potatoes, here is Paula Dean's Version. I have yet to try it but will for the holidays.

See also the sweet potato casserole we featured in 30daysof...Casseroles.

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Paper Tissue Flowers - Crafts with Kids

I saw a beautiful display at an outdoor school festival and wanted to try this craft for myself.  You can do it with the kids in 5 easy steps. We made these for a surprise birthday party for my daughters friend.

What you'll need:

• Pastel colored tissue paper
• Chenille stem
• Scissors
• Ruler

How to make it:

1. Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size (the size to the right is 13x9 inches) 
2. Stack around 15 pieces of tissue paper. Use the same color or different colors. If you want to use a smaller number of pieces of tissue paper, flower will not be as full. Accordion pleat the tissue paper working from the long side.
3. Wind one end of the chenille stem around the middle of the accordion pleated tissue paper. Trim the ends of each side to give the pedals a unique look. 
4. Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower. 
5. Do the second side and your flower will be complete.  

 Tips:

1. If you want to give your flowers some leaves, include a stack of green tissue paper folded accordion style during step 3. Trim the green paper into a shape of a leaf after step 5.
2. You can make hanging pompoms to hand in your childs room or above a food buffet as well.  Simply use larger dimensions of tissue paper in one color.  Tie the two halves together and hang from the ceiling.

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Cucumber Summer Salad

Last month we planted a garden.  This month we are using our vegetables from the garden in our dinner salads.   The most success has been with the cucumbers.  Check out the size of this big boy!  Besides slicing up the cucumber and drinking it with my water, I now make this fantastic cucumber salad recipe.  Try it for yourself.  It makes a great summer salad.

Ingredients


3 large cucumbers, peeled, thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
dash ground cayenne pepper
dash dried parsley flakes
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
dash dried leaf basil

How to make:

Combine all ingredients (except cucumbers) in a sauce pan on the stove: heat until sugar melts. Pour warm mixture over cucumbers. Store covered in refrigerator for at least 24 hours.  

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Chicken and Black Bean Casserole

I made this for my family last night and my husband said it was the best thing he has ever had.  That, or he was really hungry, because I didn't even have time to take a picture of it.  


INGREDIENTS


3 chicken breast
1 white onion
1 serrano chili
1 cup cilantro
1 can of Black Bean Refried Bean or Black beans.
2 bottles of Trader Joes Enchilada Sauce
10 Flour Taco Size Flour Tortillas
1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese


HOW TO MAKE


Dice the chicken breast and saute with the chopped onion and pepper until soft.  Add 1/2 jar of the enchilada sauce to the pan.  In a 9x13 casserole dish, pour a thin layer of sauce on the bottom, then cover with tortillas.  Add 1 can of black bean refried beans to the chicken mixture.  Pour the entire chicken mixture in the casserole dish and spread evenly.  Take the remaining tortillas and cover the casserole ingredients.  Pour sauce over the tortillas.  Cover with the cheese and cilantro for color.


Bake at 375˚ for 35 minutes.
Serve with Chips, Cilantro, and sour cream.


Get in the habit of making a casserole every Monday night like me.  
Here are 30 other recipes to choose from.  What's your favorite casserole?

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