Recipe: Shepherd's Pie recipe

This is from a classic recipe that I altered slightly.  Derek gave it an 8 out of 10.  Hannah loved it as well.  It is really only in the mashed potato area that I altered it to give it more flavor.  Oh, and I also used ground sausage rather than hamburger which also gave it more flavor.

As I have said many times, it is wonderful to have kids that love my cooking and are so kind to tell me so, and tell me often.  

Shepherd’s  Pie

Ingredients:

2 lb ground sausage

½ to ¼ chopped onion

Corn

Peas

1 can cream of chicken soup

3 to 4 med russet potatoes

Cream cheese

Sour cream

Butter

Directions:

Saute the onions with the ground sausage

This will be the first layer on the bottom of the casserole pan

2^nd layer is the vegetables.  Whatever vegetables you would like.   We like corn and peas.

3^rd layer is the cream of chicken soup.  Mix this in a separate bowl with about ¼ to ½ cup milk.  Put little dollops on the 2^nd layer and then spread each dollop out.

4^th layer is the potatoes.  Peal the potatoes.  Cut into cubes.  Cook on stove in boiling water until soft.  Put a bit of salt in the boiling water with the cubed potatoes.   Put in a big mixing bowl.  I put in cream cheese, butter, and sour cream.   I didn’t really measure.  About ½  cup cream cheese, ½  to 1 cup sour cream.  Put small amount of salt in at a time. Mix with an electric mixer until the potatoes are smooth.  Dollop out the mashed potatoes onto the casserole pan and smooth out. 

Bake on 350 for about 45 minutes.

Take out of oven.   

5^th layer is grated cheddar cheese over top and bake at 350 for about another  10 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.  

Derek having fun at a friend's birthday party

Derek was invited to his friend,Taylor's birthday party.  It was her sweet 16th birthday party and she had it at a park.  The kids played a lot of fun games and one of them as you can see was a chalk war.  This picture is great but it does not do him justice.  He was COVERED in multi colored chalk dust.  He had to take a very long shower to get everything off.  He said he loved it and had a great time.  I am so grateful that he has such fun and great friends!

Another crochet project

This is another project that I did.  YouTube really helps in learning how to do things.  It makes it possible and affordable to try new things.  When I was first wanting to learn how to crochet, I looked into getting lessons but they were pretty expensive.

I really enjoy crocheting.  It is great to have a new project and one that is turning out so well.  It is a great self-esteem booster.  I just have to be careful actually not to crochet too much as my hands, fingers and wrists have been hurting so I have to keep telling myself, "moderation!"

Derek's Eagle

A proud moment for us all.

 The pins that I got as a scout's mom.

So incredibly proud of Derek.  He is an amazing young man.  He does many things that are right and good.  This was one of those things.  He did this not because he enjoyed it necessarily, but because once again, it was right and it was good.  I am so grateful he sees the value of adding this value to his character at such a young age.  He is drawn to things that are right, good, kind, and what our Heavenly Father wants him to do, not just what he wants to do.  He is a wonderful example of character.

Speaking of characters, here, in the picture above this one are some of his good friends, Sam, Karl, and Nick.  What wonderful young men to come and support Derek!

My new project of learning to crochet

I am learning how to crochet.  It is actually being quite fun.  I can't wait to learn new things.  I want to be able to make fun things for my kids and eventual grand kids

I love this hat, it reminds me of an ice cream cone.  I am going to try to crochet a bunch of fun hats to donate to some sort of shelter or school.

This hat was my first attempt at a hat.  I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt.  I also learned how to make these flowers which were surprisingly easy.

Lion King with Nick

Our spirit son, Nick, was in his Junior High play as Scar in The Lion King.  Derek and a couple of his friends and I went to see his wonderful play.  This is also some of his family on his mother's side.  Hannah and I went the next day as well.

This is Shylee, Derek, Nick and Leah.

This was an absolutely WONDERFUL time for Nick.  He really loves plays.  He was great in it and very fun to watch.  I am so glad we could see it and share in his happiness.

Next are some pictures of the play.

Here is the Hannah day!  We LOVED it.

Book of Mormon challenge

Hannah started this challenge with me when she was in high school and now Derek and I are doing it together.  This year we have included Grandma Smith.  The challenge is to read the Book of Mormon in a month, the month of March.

We did it!  This is a great testimony builder.  I was grateful that my mom accepted the challenge to do this with us.  It makes what we do even better when others we love do it with us.  I am grateful for faithful parents who love the Lord and have a firm testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel.  I love that they want to be involved in our lives.  I am grateful for their examples to me of Chirst like love, and that Derek and Hannah can always count on them.  They are true giants to us!