by Melanie

Sausage and Potato Pie

March 27, 2014 in Kitchen by Melanie

You guys! You are going to thank me for this recipe. Seriously, it’s soooooo good.

My kids always get a little nervous when I pull out the pie plates because they think they don’t like pie. It’s true we’re not big fruit pie fans around here, but they love EVERY savory pie I have ever made.

I didn’t even scare them with the pie plate this time (because I am in serious need of a deep dish pie plate), but as soon as they heard “pie” in the name, they were just as scared. Mwahahaha! They kept asking me what I was making for dinner like the answer would change. “Maybe this time I ask, dinner won’t be pie!” Silly kids.

My kids thought they didn't like pie until they tasted this. Oh my goodness, so delicious! Sausage and Potato Pie from Forty Eighteen



This Sausage and Potato Pie has a lot going for it. The Italian sausage and red peppers make it taste like a gourmet pizza. The zucchini makes you feel like you’ve had your veggies for the day. And the potato crust keeps it gluten free. Win, win, win!

Plus, it’s pretty.

Sausage and Potato Pie

  • 2 lb olive oil
  • 1 large sweet red pepper – cored, seeded, and cut into strips 1/4″ wide
  • 1 medium-size zucchini, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 c minced fresh basil OR 1/4 c minced flat-leaf parsley mixed with 2 tsp crumbled dried basil
  • 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, or diced kielbasa or ham
  • 3 large potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
  • 1 c grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 c shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, fontina, or cheddar cheese

Start by making the filling. Heat 1 Tb of oil in a skillet. Add the red pepper and zucchini and saute, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic, pepper, and basil and saute another few minutes. Add the sausage and cook until browned and you have no pink left. No one wants to eat raw sausage.

Remove your skillet from the heat and set it aside while you slice your potatoes. Make sure they’re thin or they won’t cook through. No one wants to eat raw potatoes either. Toss the potatoes with the other 1 Tb of oil.

If your cheese isn’t grated yet, this would be the time to do it.

Now it’s time to start assembling your pie. I use an oval 3-quart casserole dish, but a deep-dish pie plate should work great, too. Just don’t try to fit it all in a standard pie plate or you’ll be sorry. Unless you want an extra excuse to clean your oven – in which case, definitely opt for the smaller dish.

Make sure you spray some non-stick cooking spray in there so you can get the food out when it’s time.

Layer 1/4 of the potatoes in your dish, overlapping slightly. Spread 1/3 of the sausage mixture on top of that and then 1/3 of the cheeses. Spread another layer of potatoes and then press the layers down slightly.

Repeat those layers again, starting with the sausage, and then again, pressing down each layer and finishing with a top layer of potatoes. (I had to slice another potato because I misjudged how much I needed on each layer.)

Cover it with foil, toss it in the oven, and bake at 425 for 40 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake another 5-10 minutes more until the potatoes are crisp and cooked through.

When you remove it from the oven, let it stand for 10 minutes at room temperature. If you have a lot of fat swimming around (I didn’t), pour it off and then you’re ready to serve.

My kids thought they didn't like pie until they tasted this. Oh my goodness, so delicious! Sausage and Potato Pie from Forty Eighteen



My kiddos inhaled their first servings and then asked for more. They still think they are afraid of pie, but I’m one delicious meal closer to convincing them that’s simply not true.

My kids thought they didn't like pie until they tasted this. Oh my goodness, so delicious! Sausage and Potato Pie from Forty Eighteen



Today is the last day to enter to win a family photo session from Laura Hawkins Photography. If you’re a Utah local, be sure to enter! (Click on the image for more info and to enter.)

Enter to win a family photo session from Laura Hawkins Photography in Utah.

  What is your favorite pie? Do you prefer sweet or savory?

by Melanie

Pinspiration: International Waffle Day

March 25, 2014 in Kitchen by Melanie

pinspiration-red

Happy International Waffle Day! I am a huge fan of days dedicated to celebrating waffles. I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to celebrating waffles. I sing songs about waffles and write poetry about waffles.

Ok, not really, but I could. They’re just that good.

The day I had my first WaffleLuv waffle will forever be a day I remember with fondness.

But seriously, waffles are awesome, and I really do have a whole pinterest board dedicated to all things waffles.

In honor of Waffle Day, I wanted to share some waffle love of my own – a few “I have GOT to try that!” waffles from my board. These are a few waffles that may be a little different than what we’re used to… Each image is linked to the pin on my board, and each pin will take you to the original source.

Breakfast will never be the same again.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Breakfast Pizza is one of my favorites for breakfast or dinner. This version could become my new favorite.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Egg and cheese waffle sandwich… breakfast of champions right there.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

These breakfast sandwiches look amazing.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Who wants a sandwich on boring old bread when waffles exist?

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Grilled cheese sandwich waffles… Chuck asks for “girl cheese” almost every day for lunch. I definitely need to try this method.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Fried chicken and waffle sandwiches with bacon cheddar and green onion waffles. Oh man.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

This twist on a breakfast sandwich looks amazing! Spicy chicken chorizo and avocado… yes, please.

I love how creative people get with their waffles! So many fun ideas for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Mashed Potato waffles – as if mashed potatoes could get any better!!! – with cheddar and chives

I’m kind of feeling like eating waffles every day this week after looking through all of these. Which one do you want to try first

by Melanie

40 Favorite Holidays

March 19, 2014 in Great Room by Melanie

40-things

Maybe that should say “holidays.” I mean, can you really call Poultry Day a holiday? But that’s what today is. Are you having a poultry celebration today?

I was all set with this month’s edition of 40 Things, but then I saw that article circulating again. You know that one about holidays and how we need to “tone it down a notch…” You probably know how I feel about it already, but a friend shared this article today that made me realize I’m not the only one!

I am so in love with that article. It says exactly how I feel about this whole thing! And motherhood in general. Especially this:

So, I guess what I am saying is that you are the perfect mother for your children and your kids just need YOU. They need your best self, and when you are being that, whoever YOU are, is enough. After that realization, who other people are, what they do and what they have fades into the background and what emerges is who you are now and who you can become.

So because I love to celebrate random holidays – not to keep up with anyone or prove what an amazing mom I am, but because it’s how I enjoy motherhood – here are 40 of my favorite holidays to celebrate… that you probably haven’t even heard of.

celebrate

  1. January 6: Cuddle Up Day
  2. January 13: Make Your Dream Come True Day
  3. January 19: National Popcorn Day
  4. January 21: National Hugging Day
  5. January 23: National Pie Day
  6. January 27: Chocolate Cake Day
  7. January 28: National Kazoo Day
  8. February 1st Saturday: Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
  9. February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day
  10. February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
  11. February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
  12. March 1: Peanut Butter Lovers’ Day
  13. March 15: Incredible Kid Day
  14. March 22: National Goof Off Day
  15. March 23: National Chip and Dip Day
  16. March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
  17. March 28: Something on a Stick Day
  18. April 3: Don’t Go to Work Unless It’s Fun Day
  19. April 4: Walk Around Things Day
  20. April 7: Caramel Popcorn Day
  21. April 7: No Housework Day
  22. April 11: Barbershop Quartet Day
  23. April 14: International Moment of Laughter Day
  24. April 3rd Thursday: National High Five Day
  25. April 23: Take a Chance Day
  26. May 4: Star Wars Day
  27. May 6: No Diet Day
  28. May 8: No Socks Day
  29. Followed by May 9: Lost Sock Memorial Day
  30. May Friday before Mothers’ Day: Military Spouses Day
  31. May 20: Pick Strawberries Day
  32. May 22: Buy a Musical Instrument Day
  33. June 1st Friday: National Doughnut Day
  34. July 1: Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
  35. July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day
  36. July 28: National Milk Chocolate Day
  37. July 30: National Cheesecake Day
  38. July 31: Harry Potter Day
  39. August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
  40. August 3: National Watermelon Day
  41. August 8: Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day
  42. August 15: Relaxation Day
  43. August 27: Just Because Day
  44. September 5: Be Late for Something Day
  45. followed by September 6: Fight Procrastination Day
  46. September 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day
  47. September 22: Elephant Appreciation Day
  48. October 11: It’s My Party Day
  49. October 14: National Dessert Day
  50. November 1st Saturday: Book Lovers Day
  51. November 3: Housewife’s Day
  52. December 7 Letter Writing Day
  53. December 8: National Brownie Day
  54. December 16: National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
  55. December 18: Bake Cookies Day

I thought you might want to know September 2 is National Beheading Day. Seriously? That’s a day???

I know, I know, I didn’t stop at 40. It’s 40 +15 bonus holidays because I just couldn’t narrow down the list anymore.

Tomorrow is Extraterrestrial Abductions Day. Any ideas how we can celebrate that one???

 

by Melanie

March Madness: Family Style

March 17, 2014 in Playroom by Melanie


Are you a basketball fan? Truthfully, I never watch a single game unless someone gives us tickets. I would rather do just about anything than watch sports on TV, but I love to go to a game in person.

Steve, on the other hand, is a HUGE sports fan. When we coordinate the family calendar, he makes sure the important games are jotted down so we can plan around them. Which doesn’t always happen… but we try – because I’m an awesome wife.

Every year Steve brings home NCAA tournament brackets for us to fill out, and every year the girls protest louder and louder. “But Daaaadddd, it’s boooorrrriing!!!”

We’re totally awesome parents, so we just laugh and tell them to fill out their bracket. Joy actually cried about it tonight. Real tears. Streaming down her cheeks.

I’m telling you — Awesome. Parents.

So after the torture (who knew choosing a few random names on a piece of paper could be so traumatic???) we got to the fun part.

The prizes.


I don’t think we have ever played for good prizes before, and that’s probably why the girls hate it more and more every year. Why play a game with no incentive to win???

So just in case you need ideas for your own tournament family fun (doesn’t it sound like fun???) here’s our plan in 4 easy steps.

1. First, everyone has to choose their winners. And let me tell you, it’s hilarious to listen to a bunch of kiddos who don’t know or care a bit about college basketball fill out a tournament bracket.

Kid 1: “Villanova? I bet whoever named that team was hungry.”
Mom: “Why?”
Kid 1: “It sounds like vanilla!”
Kid 2: “Yeah, or a villain!”

Villanova was chosen as the champion twice in our family because it sounds delicious. Or sinister.

2. Next, figure out how you will score your brackets. We’re going with a very simple scoring system: 1 point for every victory. It doesn’t matter which round it’s in or if it’s an upset… just choosing the right winner gets you a point. If you choose the final champion, you get a bonus point.

3. Finally, decide what awesomeness the winners will win. We tried a new recipe for dinner that turned out pretty gross, so I think everyone was a bit hungry when we came up with the prizes. You’ll see…

First Four: Most correct picks in the First Four gets 4 regular candy bars.

South: Most correct pics in the South gets a movie date at the theater on the south end of town.

West: Most correct picks in the West gets a shopping trip to the Disney store (because it’s in Anaheim, of course).

East: Most correct picks in the East gets a pizza of their choice (because it’s in New York, and apparently that’s what my hungry kiddos know about New York).

Midwest: Most correct picks in the Midwest gets ribs at Texas Roadhouse. yum! I suppose they could choose something else if they wanted, but why would they? Have you had the ribs at Texas Roadhouse??? The. Best.

Sweet Sixteen: Most picks in the Sweet Sixteen gets a visit to the Sweet Tooth Fairy.

Final Four: Most picks in the Final Four gets a 4-part date: lunch, nickel arcade, ice cream, and then back home for a movie.

Championship Game: Must pick BOTH teams in the championship game to get a 2-layer cake. (When I win that one, I’m getting an ice cream cake. mmmm)

Champion Pick: Choose the champion to get a parade around the neighborhood. Of course, it will just be our family involved in the parade – the single float, the only spectators, and the ones throwing confetti and candy – but if any neighbors happen to be along the parade route, we’ll toss them some candy, too.

Most Points Overall: If you win the whole enchilada, you get to go out for enchiladas and bring home your very own carton of ice cream.

Least Points Overall: If you managed to pick the fewest winners, you get a trip to the dollar store for a single item.

4. Now Steve will watch the games, tell us who the winners are, and someone ends up with bragging rights… and probably a few extra pounds. Let the fun begin!

Is it just us, or do you make your kids play with you, too?

by Melanie

Meal Planning Made Easy

March 14, 2014 in Kitchen, Linen Closet by Melanie

printables-weekIt’s the final day of Free Printables Week! We will definitely have to do this again because I LOVE printables. Sweet little love notes and cute signs and tags are definitely on my list of faves.

Eating is another one. Definitely a fave.

I really love to cook, but even something you love can get tedious when it’s every day. every day. every day. many times every day. For some reason my family keeps expecting to find food on the table day after day. The nerve.

Meal planning will be so much easier with this #printable menu planner and grocery list. I won't have to run to the store every night.



I think the hardest part of cooking for a family is deciding what to make every night. You want it to be healthy, something people will eat, not the same thing you just ate a few days ago, simple and quick to prepare….

My grandma solved the problem by having a weekly menu that never changed. Monday was chicken casserole. Tuesday was bean night. Wednesday was tacos. She didn’t mind cooking for her family of 10, but she didn’t want to have to figure out what to serve. So she assigned a meal to a day and served the same thing every week for years and years. My dad loved it and wished my mom would do the same thing. I’m glad she didn’t.

One time I decided I would simplify my life by making a 2-month menu. I printed out 2 blank month calendars and filled them full of dinner plans, leaving a few blank days for trying a new recipe or being lazy eating leftovers. I got all the way through two tasty months, but when it was time to start back at the beginning of my fabulous menu, I just couldn’t do it. Even after 2 months I felt like we had just eaten those meals and needed to try something new.

You just have to find a solution that works for you, right? Well, here’s what works for me.

Meal planning will be so much easier with this #printable menu planner and grocery list. I won't have to run to the store every night.



Instead of repeating the same menu, I deal with menu planning by making it one of my weekly chores. Every Monday I plan our meals for the week, and every Tuesday I do the grocery shopping. I hang the menu on our family whiteboard so the family has an idea what to expect – although I admit it we don’t always stick to the plan – at least they have a clue as to what they can expect to see on the table.

I print these out every week, so they don’t have a lot of colors or extra frills. They’re just basic and straightforward. First, the menu planner.

Meal planning will be so much easier with this #printable menu planner and grocery list. I won't have to run to the store every night.Simple, eh? I write in the dates at the top and down the side under the days of the week. And then it’s time to go to town. I gather cookbooks and and click around on Pinterest and my favorite blogs to fill in the meals.


I confess, quite a few of those boxes are filled with “self serve” – especially on the weekends. At least they know to expect to fend for themselves, right?

Sometimes we have theme nights or try to plan our meals around a holiday. One summer we assigned a land of Disneyland to each week and ate meals we might find there. It was our “we can’t go to Disneyland this summer and we’re having Disney withdrawals” summer. Some weeks we eat a lot of scrambled eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches, but we almost always manage to get dinner on the table.

I’m old school, so I print it out and fill it in with pencil – always with pencil because I move things around a lot before the final version is complete. I always make sure to make a note of where the recipe came from so I know where to find it when it’s time to cook.

While I have the recipes in front of me, I pull out the grocery list page and fill it in as I go.

Meal planning will be so much easier with this #printable menu planner and grocery list. I won't have to run to the store every night.

The unmarked section is for another store I need to visit that week. Lately that means Costco. We keep a running list on the board where everyone is supposed to write down what we’re out of when they used the last of it, so I pull list out to finish up the grocery list,and then I’m ready to shop.

When I first started meal planning, I would just plan dinners. I bought food for breakfast and lunch, but it wasn’t planned and we ended up buying more than we needed and wasting food. When I decided to add breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks to the weekly menu, I thought we would spend more money. I was planning more meals, after all. But I was surprised – and happy – when we actually spent LESS. When I planned all of our meals and shopped with a list, I ended up only buying what we actually needed that week, which ended up saving us money. We waste a lot less food now, too!

I still have to cook every day – until my family decides they’re okay not eating for awhile – but it makes my life easier when I only have to spend one day coming up with the fabulous ideas of what to feed them. You can get your own menu planner and grocery list when you click on the images to get to the download page. Or here • menu plannergrocery list.

How do you handle meal planning at your house?

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