Earth Day 2015

Blue & Gold Pride

I was reminded (not that I needed it) this morning how much I love FFA!

The Blue & Gold Pride came flooding back. I was asked by a FFA member to attend the community breakfast sponsored by the local FFA chapter. It was a great way to start my morning; drinking my coffee from a FFA cup, talking to students about how I can relate to those 5am mornings getting up to cook breakfast during National FFA Week, and the plans for the rest of the week's celebrations. 

I couldn't resist wearing my Blue & Gold this morning and kinda want to all week!

So, if your local FFA chapter is having events this week, I suggest you go out and support The Future of Agriculture!

13 Recipes to Use Leftover Mashed Potatoes

This post came out of necessity. Last night I helped host a large event, with a large amount of leftover mashed potatoes. Thank goodness for 4-Hers and 4-H parents helping serve and keep things going smoothly.
I gave a friend a roaster full of them and told her to be creative. As I was getting ready to send her an email with a list of recipes and ideas I thought why not make this a blog post to help others!


Enjoy these 13...or 14 ideas, from myself and others! I could go on forever, but this is a start.

1. Freeze them! Yes you can freeze mashed potatoes, I learned this from my grandma. If you don't have time to try out the other 9 ideas I will list, this might be the best option for the moment. You can either freeze them in a pan/tupperware or bag. When ready to use, thaw and mix with a handheld mixer to "fluff." I ran across  this cleaver ideas from The Yummy Life.

2. Shepard's Pie

3. Potato Pancakes

4. Potato Soup

5. Potato Croquettes.

6. Gnocci, I love this gnocci, so  way to use of leftovers and have these lovelies is great. Check out this recipe.

7. Mashed Potato Muffins, from Just A Taste

8. Mashed Potato, Cheddar & Chive Waffels. Fun idea from Joy the Baker.

9.Potato Puffs, here is a recipe I plan to try.

10. Potato Bread or Potato Rolls. This Amish Potato Roll recipe from Baked by Rachel looks tasty

11. Mashed Potato Quesadilla. Supposedly this recipe tastes like Perogies, and there you have another recipe idea!

12. Loaded Baked Potato Eggroll.Seems like a fun idea from Spend with Pennies.

13. Last and definitely not least.......Mashed Potato BACON Bombs!   Bacon, cheese, and potatoes, what more can you need?! Think I will try this recipe out tomorrow.

Christmas in the Country Reveal

My #ChristmasintheCountry gift arrived pretty early, I couldn't wait to open it! I had to, I needed my camera with me to "document" the gift, yet still I didn't get a picture of the outside or as I opened it :(

I am thankful that , Jamie Rhoades (This Uncharted Rhoade), Laurie Link (COUNTRY LINKed), Erin Mullins (Diaries from the Dirt Road) and Robyn (Ranch Wife Chronicles) coordinated this fun exchange. 2014 was the second (hopefully annual) exchange, and I'm glad I didn't miss it like the year before. 

Luckily for me one of the hosts, Robyn received my name. I was excited to receive a gift from a blogger I followed and who was from the same state as my Dad.  Besides the reveal, I am also including the contact info where you can get some of these items.  (If you are jealous and want one for yourself.)  I think handmade, local businesses, family owned, etc are important and should be supported!

I love that all of them are one of a kind and handmade!

In my box: 

-decorated Mason Jar (done by Robyn herself)

- Notebook, again one of Robyn's creations. I hope this helps me get organized in 2015, I am always losing the notes I write. Plus this will be a reminder of the exchange and new blogger friend.

-Hand embroidered tea towels. by a neighbor of hers (love, love, love these) I think this is a lost art. These towels are something my family has always had and were the "prized" towels in our kitchen!

-Goat Milk Soap, "a luxury, every women should have"- Robyn

Check this stuff out, here is the contact info that is on the bar. 

-Mixed Media art. Fun and right up my alley

Thanks again to Robyn for the great Christmas gift and to the others who helped coordinate. Can't wait till Christmas in the Country 2015!