The Messy Cook

The Truth:  I had high hopes for this blog.  I wanted to put all these awesome recipes on here and post these decadent pictures (you know....the ones that make your mouth water and make you have to make the recipe NOW).  Yes, that was the plan.  However, this has been the plan for about 2 years and if you've noticed, there are no decadent pictures.  In fact, there are hardly any recipes.  The reason for this is: life.  I have 3 little boys, I make a hand made craft, and I want to be room mother, baseball coach, tutor, and an amazing cook.  So, what I end up getting is a messy kitchen and everything I make goes straight to the mouths waiting for it.  Telling my kids to hold on while I put it in a fancy casserole dish, with a fancy colored napkin off the side, and getting the light just right is just not going to happen.  

I think the first step to moving on is realizing the truth.  So, I have just admitted the truth.  I admitted it to all of you.  Now, it's onto the future.  I set my standards to high before.  I kept putting off adding recipes to the blog until I got a great picture.  Now that I realize this is never going to happy, I will start the "Wish this was a better blog, but it is what it is" blog. 

To start off my new blog, I am posting a recipe......without a picture.

So, I LOVE my breakfast casserole that is in my book.  It's called the Cheesy O'Brien Casserole.  The reason I love it, is that I usually find that breakfast casseroles can be kind of bland, hard to get them to turn out right, and dry.  This recipe uses Cheddar Cheese soup....which is kind of weird, I know....but it makes it very gooey and definitely not dry.  Big fan. 

However, I found another good recipe.  My little sister has been making it for a couple years and it is SO fast.  My older sister had a big brunch this last weekend and I was put in charge of making two of them.  To make it easy, we made the "Easy Breakfast Casserole" (That's the name of it, great huh?).  So, I will share that with you today.

EASY BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
Click here for printable version to put in your book.

7 eggs
1 c. milk
4 c. shredded cheese
6-8 slices of bacon (I bought the kind from Sam's Club that's already cooked and you just have to microwave.  It made it just that much easier.  Since I felt like the slices were a little smaller I did more like 12. Plus, can you really have too much bacon.  Haha.)
8-10 frozen hash brown patties (This depends on how big your pan is.  I bought the Kroger Brand from Smith's.  It was $2 and comes in a 10 pack.  I used 9 to line the bottom of my pan.)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground mustard

1.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Place hash browns in a single layer in a greased 9x13 baking dish (my pyrex dish worked awesome!). 
3.  Cook bacon and slice/crumble.
4.  Sprinkle bacon and cheese over hash brown patties.
5.  In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt and mustard.  Pour over bacon. 
6.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
7.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes or longer until edges are golden brown and knife in center comes out clean.

Super easy!  I think I put it together in 10 minutes.  It doesn't have as much flavor as the other recipe I have in my book already, but with some ketchup it's great and it takes a lot less time.  I would even think about making this for my kids before school.  Oh wait, that would mean that I would have to have it in the oven at about 6:00 a.m.  Nevermind.  Sorry boys, you're having cereal still.

So, hopefully this is the start to a wonderful new blog full of tips, tricks, and recipes.

Happy Cooking!
Allie

Where I'll be

UPDATED - I had some books left over from the show I did in Omaha this last week so I am leaving them with a friend.  She will be taking them to the shows she is going to be at.  I don't have a lot left, so if I sell them all at the earlier shows, I obviously won't have them at the later Omaha shows.

Here are the upcoming shows you can find me at:

Saturday, October 29th

St. Wenceslaus Fall Bowtique
15323 Pacific Street
Omaha, NE 68154
9-3:30

Wednesday-Saturday, November 8-12 - Simple Treasures Boutique

Legacy Events Center

Farmington, UT 

Davis Fairgrounds across 1-15 from Lagoon

W-F 10-8, Sa 10-6

Wednesday-Saturday, November 8-12 - Grandmother's House Boutique

7711 S. Parker Road

Centennial, CO

Friday & Saturday, November 11th & 12th - Salt Lake Family Christmas Gift Show
South Towne Expo Center
Sandy, UT
10-9 p.m.  The show runs through Sunday, but I will not be there that day.

Saturday, November 19th
Papillion-LaVista South
10799 Highway 370
Papillion, NE 68046
9-4

Friday & Saturday, November 25th & 26th
Santa's Workshop
Dixie Center At St. George
1835 Convention Center
St. George, UT 84790
10-6, Free Admission
Saturday, November 26th
Millard South Craft Show
14905 Q Street
Omaha, NE 68137
9-4

Friday & Saturday, December 2nd-3rd
Midway Swiss Christmas
130 W Main Street
Midway, UT
10-8

Recipe Shower Invite

My mom is hosting a bridal shower in a month and decided to do a recipe shower.  I just finished making the invite and cards for her last night and I loved the way it turned out.  

 Here is the recipe card that everyone will get and they will fill out to put in her book.

And here's the book I am making for her to put all the recipes in:

I hope she likes it....and I hope she doesn't read my blog.  Pretty sure she doesn't, so I think I'm safe!

Swiss Days

It is just a few days away before Swiss Days.  It has been an insane summer and I had a lot of plans for my blog and unfortunately, I just haven't had the time.  Not sure if that had to do with my 3 crazy little boys, moving, or making way too many cookbooks.  Hmmmm..  Anyway, if you are visiting me for the first time, I hope you will visit again.  I plan to get on top of things and start posting recipes, tips, tricks, and pictures.  In the meantime, check out my website (click on the link at the side) to order and contact me if you have any questions at all!

Thanks!
Allie

myfavoriterecipesbook@gmail.com

Sweet Smell of Spring Boutique

I will be at the "Sweet Smell of Spring Boutique" out in Riverton, UT from 9-5 this Saturday, March 12th.  It will be held at the Small Wonders Pre-school.  The address is:  2332 W. 12600 S. 

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d6a4d304d6a45314e7a453d0d0a&blogview=true


For those that live in Omaha, I will be back in Omaha to be at the Millard West Craft show on April 2nd and the Millard South Craft show on April 9th.  I will be bringing my books from Utah, so if there is a specific book you want, please email me so I can make sure I have it for you.

I can't wait for SPRING!!! 

Where am I and where am I going?

Wow, this is a big question.  I only wish I knew the answer.

As of right now, I am mostly just selling online (Etsy and my website).  I am planning on having my books at the Millard West Craft Show on April 2nd in Omaha.  I will also be selling at two different boutiques in March in Utah.  I will update the information when I receive it.

I have been cooking a lot lately.  Trying new recipes.  Inventing some.  Perfecting others.  I now just need to put my fingers to the keyboard and type all these recipes up so you can add them to your books.  I hope to do this soon.

If you ever have any questions or want to reserve any books for the shows I'll be at, email me.  I'd love to hear from you.

Blogtastic Extravaganza

I am doing a giveaway with the blogtastic Extravaganza on this awesome blog: www.skittaskattfurniture.blogspot.com the 18th-22nd.  Go to her blog for a chance to win.

I am also offering all my customers a discount on any purchase over $30.  Enter coupon code 10OFF at check out. To order, click here.

I hope you all had a great holiday season!  I have been busy in the kitchen and will let you know if I add more recipes.