Twice-baked Mashed Potatoes

I created this recipe after a Thanksgiving where we were waiting on the mashed potatoes in order to eat. (You know, mashed pots cool so quickly and are not nearly as tasty that way!) After that I year, I said I was finding a way to bake the potatoes so I could just pull them out of the oven and be done with it. The results are quite tasty if I do say so myself. I usually make as below, but this Thanksgiving I didn't have time to bake them (I know, the irony!), so I just added the cheese on top and the potatoes melted it. Still darn good!

Twice baked mashed potatoes

3 pounds of russet or yukon gold (recommend) potatoes

1 cup of cream

4oz cream cheese

.5 stick of butter

4-5 sprigs of thyme

3-4 cloves of garlic

Salt and pepper

Sour cream if you like (adds a nice tang, sometimes I use sometimes I don’t)

Bunch of scallions, chopped

1-2 cups of shredded cheddar

Crumbled bacon ( you can cook 3-4 pieces or you can get the bag from costco like I do :o)

Peel potatoes and cut into small, similarly sized pieces. Cook the potatoes in very salty boiling water (like the ocean) until fork tender

While potatoes are cooking, place cream into a small pot with thyme, peeled garlic, cream cheese and butter and heat on low. If you like creamier potatoes add more cream or milk. Once potatoes are done remove thyme stems and garlic pieces

Combine cooked potatoes and cream mixture (as well as sourcream if using) in a large bowl and use a hand mixer to blend, or a potato masher if you’re a glutton for punishment :o) Add salt and some pepper to taste.  (as well as milk and butter to taste if necessary, this isn’t science after all LOL!)

Spoon mashed potatoes into a corning ware dish and cover with shredded cheese.

Refrigerate until 30 minutes before ready to eat, the bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes (top will be bubbly, possibly slightly brown, your call!) Serve with small dishes of scallions and bacon pieces. Alternate: If everyone likes bacon, go ahead and mix it into the potatoes after mashing.

I love it when I'm smarter than Doctors :o)

I think I've mentioned on here before that the first OB I went to and I didn't exactly jive. It was the practice I've been limping along with since I was in my early 20s. I LOVED my first doctor there, but she left to have her own babies and I haven't been happy with them since. But, I was already a patient there and I thought I would give them a whirl and see how they would be with obstetric care. After my first meeting with the Dr, I was 100% sure they were not the doctors for me. She basically gave me the impression that I was going to have a horrible pregnancy with all sorts of problems because I have approximately one crapload of risk factors. She was telling me things like they would induce early because I wouldn't be allowed to go past my due date. (Umm...why? NOTHING is actually wrong with me!)

Well today, despite my LONG list of risk factors, I get to mark one more problem off the list. I passed my glucose test, which means no gestational diabetes for me!Take that Dr. Doom and Gloom! Well looky here, guess who knows her body? Guess who was absolutely right to look for doctors who would take the risk factors as a reason to monitor, but not to make hasty plans. I am over the moon right now in my smugness. Which probably means something is about to go wrong, but for right now, I'm loving this.

Vacation and Other Holidays

Hi World,

So its been approximately 10 years since I posted and I apologize for my sucking. Now that we have that out of the way, what's been going on?

Hubs and I went on vacation for a week and half with his family. We all headed down to Orlando and stayed at Orange Lake resort and it was mahvelous! The weather was insanely beautiful every. single. day. We're talking lower 80s, upper 70s sunshiney and bee-you-ti-full. I'd say I want to go back right now, but FL is having a cold spell so I think it might take some of the oomph out of the swimming. We were there the week of Thanksgiving and in addition to spending time at the resort, we also got to eat turkey with my family (Mom's Thanksgiving, is there anything better on this earth?!). We also hit Disney and SeaWorld both of which we fun, but left me wanting to go again when I'm not baking a small person. I would have loved to ride some more rides and my back was YURTING hardcore by the end of those days. Who knew pregnancy slowed you down LOL.

Since we've been back, the focus has been on getting ready for the holidays. The bestie and I had our annual cookie baking day on Sunday and boy howdy do I have some cookies in my house now! Christmas shopping is almost done, just the brother and the husband left. Both of them seem to just buy what they want and there's nothing left to gift them!


In Scooter news, she's moving constantly. Last week my belly moved of its own accord for the first time and that was quite the sight! Scott's felt her twice now, although she still tries to play shy on us and won't move on command. Sooo my daughter :o) We saw the Maternal Fetal specialist at the end of November and he kept using the word "perfect" and really, is there anything more you want to hear about your baby and pregnancy? I think not! I only have to see them once a month now, and no more internal exams! Woo flippin hoo! I go see my OB on Friday and have my glucose screen so prayers please that that goes well. I just passed the early screen so today is my last day of carbs until my exam to clean my blood up for the test. The thought of insulin shots doesn't really scare me but the thought of pricking my finger 4 times a day is terrifying! Otherwise I've been feeling good. Starting to feel larger, have a few braxton hicks and my joints feel looser, but all that is par for the course at this point. Ohhhh, and we painted the nursery! So excited to get everything organized.

I think that about does it! Again, apologies for being a slacker, I'll try to be better.