Check this link out to view the rest of the images.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), baked
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3 cups (24 ounces) Daisy Brand Sour Cream
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced (optional)

Directions

• Cut baked potatoes into 1-in. cubes. Place half in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the salt, pepper and bacon. Top with half of the sour cream and cheeses. Repeat layers.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheeses are melted. Sprinkle with onions. Yield: 6-8 Servings

Happy Friday, everyone. Things have been quiet around here, so I thought I’d put up a T.G.I.F. to check in more or less. Joy has had a long, hard week but things are turning around and she’s feeling much better. She is home from the hospital now, however she won’t be around here for a while. Her eye sight isn’t good enough to read yet. I’m not sure when that will get better, but lets all hope it’s very soon! It’s a side effect from the chemo she had last week. *I think* don’t quote me on that. It is temporary though, that much I know. Keep her in your thoughts, and I’ll try to keep this updated as well.

How was your week? Any fun weekend plans you’d like to share? I’ll be getting most of my Christmas shopping done. Are you finished shopping, or haven’t you started yet? I’m always waiting till the last minute, and having it done by the end of the weekend *fingers crossed* will be extremely early for me.

Have a great weekend, and we’ll catch up next week!

Let me start this by saying I Brad Paisley. If I could afford it, I’d own every single one of his albums. And when he does a Christmas Album? I’m all over it. So I heard this the other day when I was trolling iTunes for “Penguin, James Penguin” (also done by Brad, and pretty stinkin’ cute), and HAD to share it with you guys. I love funny Christmas songs, and this one hits the spot for me this year:

Just crack me up. By the end, Steve and I were both in stitches.

Have you got any favorite “silly songs” for Christmas? I’ve got a couple others, but this is my current one.

Do you (or did you) play video games? What’s your favorite?

Well, this one snuck up on me. I didn’t realize it was Friday already. I suppose that’s better than it seeming like a very long week. Although, I’m sure it has felt long for some.

Bailey and I are planning on going to a couple of Trinity’s basketball games on Saturday. Jason will be working on a buddies van most of the day. My brother is coming over to help, and he’s bringing a big roast for me to cook. Other than that, not much going on around here.

We got our Christmas tree up on Sunday. We found a new tree farm, about 10 miles outside of town. Better trees, and less expensive than the farms closer to town. So far, the tree has fallen down twice, due to some very unruly cats! I think I scared them enough last time, because they have not messed with it since.

What’s going on with everyone? Any weekend plans? Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? Here’s a picture of ours, and one of the demon cats underneath.

2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, chives and pepper. Press onto one side of each steak.
• In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook steaks over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a meat thermometer should read 145°; medium, 160°; well-done, 170°).
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth and wine. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in browning sauce if desired. Serve with steaks. Yield: 4 servings.

From Taste of Home

Check THIS out. I found this on Pinterest and wanted to share. Quite a few I think are great ideas.

Do you understand Obamacare?

2/3 cup sugar

Directions

• In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Stir in the rum, lime juice and peel. Cool.
• In a large bowl, combine the melon, pineapple and mint. Add marinade; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Discard mint. Spoon fruit with syrup into serving cups. Garnish with additional mint if desired. Yield: 10 servings.

From Taste of Home

1/2 cup chopped onion

Directions

• In a small saucepan, saute onion and 1/8 teaspoon paprika in 1 teaspoon oil until tender. Stir in the water, tomato paste, bay leaf, bouillon and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, oregano and remaining paprika. Add chicken; seal bag and shake to coat.
• In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook half of the chicken in 1 teaspoon oil for 2-3 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm; repeat with remaining chicken and oil. Discard bay leaf. Serve sauce with chicken. Yield: 6 servings.

From Taste of Home

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all had a good week. Ours was good. Nothing exciting, but nothing bad either, so I’ll take it!

Weekend plans? We are getting together at Paul and Joys for a much-needed and long over due visit. Sadly, Sue is on call so we will miss her! The kids will be able to be outside, I think. I heard it’s supposed to be at least 50 degrees.

As I am writing this, it’s actually Thursday, late evening. We are running out the door to Bailey’s 1st choir concert! He’s all dressed up, looking handsome.

How was your week? Any weekend plans?

What’s your favorite kid’s show or cartoon (TV)?

1 pkg sugar free instant butterscotch pudding mix

2 cups reduced fat whipped topping, divided

3 1/2 cups chopped unpeeled apples

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

In large bowl, whisk milk and pudding ix for 1 minute (mixture will be thick). Whisk in 1 cup whipped topping. Fold in remaining topping. Fold in apples. Chill until serving. Sprinkle with peanuts just before serving.

The picture above is not for this but was closest I could find.

From Taste of Home

Do you have a land line?

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a Dutch oven, melt butter; whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and seasonings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Reduce heat; fold in sour cream until blended. Add ham and pasta; cook and stir until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in Mexican cheese blend until melted. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 10 servings.

From Taste of Home

1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2   green onions, sliced thin
1   (14 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1   (8 ounces) block cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded mozzarella
Dash Paula Deen’s Hot Sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper

Directions

What’s your favorite Comic Strip?

Whew. What a week! Josh came down with some sort of plague on Monday evening, and he’s been down with it (and the fevers that went with it) all week. Poor kid was sick on Thanksgiving, although he gave dinner a good try. But he was glassy-eyed and coughing though it all. The food did help make him feel better, although he’s absolutely convinced that it was the wine (we have alcohol-free, and he tasted it)

This weekend, we might do some shopping. Steve needs a new computer, so we’re going to check out what’s available. I’m also looking for a new one, but thanks to a tooth that broke, I won’t be getting one for a while. The money for my computer went to the crown. *sigh*

What about you guys? How was your week? Did you brave the Black Friday crowds? I have more than one friend who was out all night long last night. I don’t do Black Friday. Although I might consider it if I was going with friends, and had a list of stuff to get. What are your plans for the weekend?

So we discussed sexy songs a while back. Now tell me, what songs do you consider “sensual” or “sultry”? ‘Cause I think there’s a difference.

Joy is a little under the weather, and I’m more than a little insane with the new job. So we’ll try and post when we can. I’ll try and get something up here as often as possible.

Meanwhile, I’d like to ask a favor… Please leave a message here for Joy. Something funny, light, fun. We all have times in our lives when we can use a little silliness, and this might be one of those times for her. So go to it…