Ask Amy Anything Answers

Here goes my answers from last Thursday's "Ask Amy Anything" post.

Miranda asked me several questions last Thursday, which is good, and I guess it almost makes up for the fact that she just about never leaves me comments anymore.

Almost.

Anyways, she wanted to know: “What is one of your favorite comfort foods?”
Hands down, the answer is mashed potatoes, especially homemade ones. And y’all, I can make some mean mashed potatoes. Want the recipe? Sure you do:

Amy’s Mashed Potatoes
Dice and boil your potatoes in salted water. I like Yukon gold because of their buttery texture.
After the potatoes are tender, drain really well.

Now this is the part where you just have to play a little: Add a big splash of milk (I use fat-free), a big handful of cheddar cheese, a big pat of butter or margarine, and the secret ingredient: a big spoonful of fat-free mayonnaise. I use Kraft fat-free with the red lid. If the potatoes are dry, add more milk.

So simple and easy, but they are Heaven on Earth! And don’t be afraid of the mayonnaise. You can’t taste it at all! My Aunt Frances (may she rest in peace) refused to eat mayo and yet she always ate our mashed potatoes. She never ever knew! And in case you are counting calories, just remember that these have cheese and milk and butter in them which are dairy, and that means that they are totally good for you!

Are you concerned/worried/paranoid about the swine flu?
Yes and no. I don’t want any member of our family to get any kind of the flu, but I’m not terrified of the swine flu. Our pediatrician has assured me that the flu that is going around right now is a very mild strain, and if treated promptly, usually doesn’t have any complications.

That being said, we are getting the flu shots in our family, and we use healthy doses of hand sanitizer, but I haven’t decided if we will be getting the swine flu vaccine. I don’t feel great about the fact that the testing for the vaccine has been very hurried. I’m still thinking on that one.

How is Jackson doing now at his new school?
Fair. I’d give him a C+ or a B-. He seems to be having a great time when I go pick him up, but he just about always cries when it is time to be dropped off. I think it was an (unavoidable) mistake on our part to have him miss a week of school for our beach vacation after only 3 weeks there. He got very used to being with us during that time, and it hasn’t been the same since. I think he’s fine though during the day. His teacher says that he’s doing well, and I believe her when she says that. I have too.

What is one of your go-to recipes when you don't know what your family is having for dinner?
Breakfast: It’s what’s for dinner!

Seriously, this is a favorite of mine and Jackson’s! I just about always have eggs in the fridge, and usually a few pieces of bacon on hand. Add some toast and viola! Breakfast for dinner!

And the best part: I cook the bacon first (in my 10 lb cast iron skillet) and then drain just about all of the grease out of the pan, and then scramble your eggs with just a little bit of bacon grease. It’s slap your Mama good!

What one particular activity do you enjoy that you don't necessarily have a lot of time for?
Sleeping.

Reading.

Using the bathroom in private.

Candy at “Keeping Up With the Jones’” said, “I also would like to know a good, easy recipe? Or maybe 2 or 3....or maybe you should start a recipe blog! You know, you could do it in your "free" time! : )”

A good easy recipe? How about Chicken Taco Soup. I got this one from Jeni.

Chicken Taco Soup
1 chopped onion
1 16 oz can chili beans
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz corn, drained (I also added 1 small can of shoe peg corn)
1 8 oz tomato sauce
1 can chicken broth
2 cans Rotel, un-drained (Use the mild Rotel if you're not a hot-spicy fan)
1 pkg taco seasoning
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat

Place ingredients 1-7 in a slow cooker. Stir in taco seasoning. Lay chicken breasts on top until just covered by other ingredients. Cook on low for 5 hours. Take out chicken breasts and shred and then stir back into soup. Cook 2 more hours. Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, and crushed tortilla chips. (I cooked the chicken a little longer than 5 hours to begin with, and the chicken was literally falling apart. I then added it back and cooked for about an hour longer).

And as for a recipe blog? I think I would get busted for plagiarism because just about all my other recipes come from other blogs, my Mom, and my Mother-in-law!

Ashley at Mom to the 3rd degree said... "My question is how do you handle melt downs with Jackson. (If he has them.) haha. I'm sure he does, most boys do. Also I would like a quick recipe as well.
As for the meltdown’s Jackson has, let me tell you, the child is a master! And he’s quick as lightening too! You can’t catch him when you are chasing after him in Wal-Mart. Talk about embarrassing…

Usually I try to just ignore the meltdowns, especially if it is just a temper tantrum, but it can be so very difficult, especially when he refuses to stay in time out and then I want to snatch a knot in his tail.

The one thing that absolutely makes me want to meltdown with him is when he goes into that thing that only kids and invertebrates can do; you know, when all the bones in their body turn into jello and they just wiggle out of your arms into a puddle on the floor and when you try to pick them back up they just hang limp like a sack of flour. Can't.Handle.It.

I guess it just depends on the situation. Sometimes I know he is very tired or hungry and then I just try to pacify him without giving in completely. It’s a very fine line to walk, but my pediatrician was dead on when she said that we’re gonna feel like all we do for the next year is fuss and discipline. Truer words were never spoken…

As for another recipe? How about Sloppy Joe Bake.

Sloppy Joe Bake
1 lb ground beef
1 can sloppy joe sauce
1 c. frozen corn niblets
1/2 c. chopped onions
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cans of crescent dough

Heat oven at 350.

Line casserole dish with crescent roll . Bake for 8 minutes until partially done. Cook ground beef with chopped onions and drain well. Add corn, shredded cheddar and sloppy joe sauce. Stir well and pour over baked crescent rolls. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake 10-15 minutes until hot.

Delicious!

My sister Kellyn asked several questions:

What is the correct order to inform your family of the sex of your unborn child once you find out?
Sister. Husband. Parents/In-Laws. Everyone else.

What do you want for your birthday? Or did we cancel birthday presents this year? I can't remember...and we'll be in Mexico, so keep it simple!
We cancelled b’day presents this year, but you can totally buy me dinner on the cruise!

Wanna help me make a baby registry in the near future? Where should I register? Sure thing! Let’s go to Target, Wal-Mart, and Baby Depot. It’s gonna be so.much.fun!

Did you comment on my blog last week?
Yup.

Is this enough questions to qualify me for the extra entry in the giveaway?
Totally, but I hate to tell you that you didn’t win! Sorry!

And yesterday Lianne over at Socks are NOT the enemy asked about crock pot baked potatoes. I got the recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking and they are so easy.

Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
Take 8-10 medium sized baking potatoes
Wash and Dry completely
Poke lots of holes in the potatoes with a fork.
Wrap in tinfoil and place in the crock pot with the largest potatoes on the bottom.
Cook on low for 8 hours or so, or until potatoes are tender.

Beware though, that sometimes the potatoes take on a yellowish color on the inside from being baked so slowly, but I promise that they taste amazing. I have never had this "not" work for me! This is so great if you are doing a potato bar because you really don't have to do any work at all other than turn the crock pot on, and that's my kind of cooking!

Whew. That took forever. If you have more questions for me, just send em’ on! Have a great day!