Lemon Water

This is super easy to make and is so refreshing on a hot summer day.

This is what you will need...

5 Quarts of water

1 TB Citric Acid (You can get this at your family Pharmacy)

1 TB Lemon Extract

3 Cups Sugar (Or Splenda)

When I am making this for a large group of people, like a ward party of a family BBQ I tripple the recipe in a Gott container. For the Water I use 3 gallons and then add a bag of ice. By using that amount I have found as the ice melts it will not get tasting watered down. This is such a hit with both kids and adults. Tastes great and is so refreshing at a backyard BBQ on a hot summer day.

 

 

 

Easy Meat Loaf and Twice Baked Ranch Potatoes

This is a two for one recipe post. We will be making a super easy meat loaf recipe, and a twice baked potatoes as a side. You will really like how quick and easy this meal will all come together. First you need to bake some potatoes. I baked mine at 400 degrees for one hour. After they are done take the potatoes out of the oven and turn the oven to 350 degrees to get ready for the meat loaf.

 

Here are the five ingredients you will need to get started....

1 lb. Ground Beef

3/4 Cup Evaporated Milk

1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix

20 Soda Crackers, crushed

1 egg

Now mix all the ingredients and put them in an oven safe dish. Keep the remaining evaporated milk. We will use it to make the twice baked potatoes.

Now you will make the topping with the following ingredients...

1/4 Cup Ketchup

2 TB. prepared mustard

3 TB. Brown Sugar

Now mix the three ingredients together and spread on top of the prepared meat. Cook at 350 degrees for one hour.

While the Meat Loaf is in the oven it is time to prepare our twice baked potatoes. This is what you will need...

The remaining Evaporated Milk

Butter

Packet of Ranch Salid Dressing Mix

Cheese

And of corse you will need the baked potatoes

First you need to cut your baked potatoes in half.

Now scrape the inside of the potatoes into a bowl. Keep the peals because you will be filling them back up.

This is the tricky part. It is impossible to tell you an exact measurement of ingredients in twice baked potatoes because it really depends on how many potatoes you use and the size of the ones you use. This is the order of ingredients I used.

First I put in some evaporated milk in and start to mix the potatoes with a hand mixer. I mix them until they are a creamy consistency pouring in evaporated milk as needed.

Next I add some softened butter. Mix again with the mixer and put in butter as needed. Just tast it along the way and that will help you decide how much butter is needed.

Now I add in some of the ranch packet. I used 2 TB of the packet, but like the butter just use tast to determine how much to use.

When your taste buds are happy with your mixture you have concocted it is time to fill the potato skins. I fill them so that they are just filled above the sides of the skins. You will have a few skins that can be discarded. I had 2 that were unused. Now top them with cheese! Now comes the "twice" in twice baked potatoes. The potatoes need to heat up for about 30 min.

I put them in with the meat loaf for the last 30 min of the meat loafs cooking time. I works out great that way because they both were done and ready to eat at the same time. So yummy!

I really like the combination of the meat loaf and potatoes. They complement each other very well. I also added a little side salad. This meal is very easy and your family will love it. I hope you like it! As always if you have any questions post them in the comments below. If you try it also tell me how it turns out.

Creamy Hash Browns (Funeral Potatoes)

We are having some friends over for dinner tonight for a little Christmas Party. We are having Spiral Ham, and nothing tasted better with ham that Funeral Potatoes. There are many variations of this dish and I have probably ten different recipes that people refer to as Funeral potatoes. This one is Corn Flake Free. Funeral Potatoes is a Mormon nickname for this type of potatoes because this is the type of potatoes that the Relief Society always serves when they help with lunches after funerals. I am sure the reason they are served is because they are so easy and so yummy. Real Confort food. I like this one because the whipping cream makes them creamy and so yummy. This is all you need....

1 1/2 packages of Shredded Hash browns

1 tsp Salt

1 Pint Whipping Cream

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

Grated Cheese

Thats it! Now grease a 9 x 13 pan. Put in potatoes and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Drizzle wipping cream on top. Bake, uncovered, 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Take it out of the oven cover with grated cheese and bake for 5 more minutes until the cheese is melted. See that is quick and easy.

My husband found this image and we got a good laugh. I thought you would like it. I am sure you all have a recipe for this type of dish. If you try it let me know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy!