Tater Tot Casserole | a recipe

Tater Tot Casserole is a favorite in our house. Even my sister loves it, and she’s probably the pickiest eater I’ve ever met!!!  It’s not only my favorite because it tastes delish, but it’s SOOOO fast and easy. There are tons of recipes out there, but I had to share mine… because, well… as all good cooks think… “mine’s the best”. Hah.

What you need:

• 1.5 lb ground meat (we use beef)
• 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon Soy sauce
• 2 Cups French Fried Onions
• 2 cans Green Beans
• 1 bag of tater tots
• 2 Cups Shredded Cheese (or less, or more… whatev)

Let’s make it:

1. Brown your meat, seasoning it however you like.
2. Once meat is done, add 2 cans of CofM soup, 1.5 Cups of French Fried Onions, green beans, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.
3. Mix it all up and pour into a 9” x 13” casserole dish. Add tater tots to top creating a layer, arranging them however you’d like. I try to fit as many as I can.
4. Add whatever leftover French Fried Onions you have and cover with shredded cheese.
5. Bake @ 425 degrees for 25 mins. (Make sure it’s on the bottom rack so the cheese doesn’t get too crunchy.)

 

Serves 5

It makes a lot, between three of us, there isn’t much left over, Craig eats like a horse though. He also hates onions, but loves this.

Maybe as a side dish at Christmas dinner this year?? If you love green bean casserole… you’ll love this!!

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

DSLR’s and flash | Bouncing Light

image source: DIYPhotography

Awhile back, I was browsin’ Pinterest and happened upon this wonderful idea from DIYPhotography! A DIY Party Bouncer. I would love to have all that fancy photography equipment, but I don’t. And since I haven’t invested in a new flash, this works great. I get lots of emails asking for tips on DSLRS… so I felt the need to share it!

Check out the flash vs. party bouncer pictures:

Now, it’s not professional, but looks hella better than that using that darned flash. Dontchya think? Hopefully you see a difference. HAH.

Just cut slits in the side of any business card or piece of cardstock and slide it on. You could even just hold a folded piece of paper at a 45 degree angle, which is what I did for the second set of photo’s.

Go try it out and tell me what you think.

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

DIY Bath Salts | Gift in a Jar

So, I was at Michael's last week, and happened upon a huge jar of mineral/sea salt, it was cheap so I had to buy it. I knew it would come in handy at some point. It did.  I decided to make a homemade bath soak. Super easy. Super Yummy! Perfect for handmade gift giving!

What you need:

• jar (I used the Ball jelly/jam jars measuring 250ml)
• mineral and sea salt
• essential oil (or in my case extract)
• food coloring
• small piece of fabric

How to make it:

1. Pour enough salt to fill a jar, or two. (Honestly, I didn’t measure) and add a few drops of essential oil to fabric.
   If you’d like your salt to have color, just add a few drops of food coloring to the fabric before stirring.
2. Stir the fabric into the salt for a few minutes, making sure to get the salt well coated.

That’s it! Just make sure that the fabric is in dripping wet, you don’t want it to dissolve your salt.

You can use any scent you prefer. I used peppermint, with it being the holiday season, peppermint just seems fitting. Remember though, peppermint is an energizing scent. Have fun with it, add a drop or two of a few different scents to make your own custom scent. Add some burlap, twine and lace. A tag would be nice, but I think most of us now know how to use bath salts, so it’s not a MUST but would add a nice décor element.

 

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

This post was sponsored my Little Miss Momma.

Put a QR code on your Business Cards

QR codes are taking over. They are on streets signs, in magazines, posted on walls. It’s like a UPC on steroids. Lets say your reading a magazine, and you see an item you really want, instead of trying to get online and look for it, you just scan the QR code with your smartphone, and it takes you right to where you can purchase it online. It’s taken over Japan, and is quickly catching on in the US.

You can easily make your own. Whether it’s for your shop, blog, Facebook or twitter. You’re literally only a few clicks away from making it easier for your customers/readers to visit you.

Check out the new business cards:

How can you make yours??

• visit QRStuff
• enter your url.
• Then click download image.

It’s that easy and FREE. Then upload the image to wherever you create your business cards, VOILA!

I made one for the shop, blog, FB and Twitter. I was invited by Etsy to be a part of the West Elm craft show (eeekkkk!!!).  So I will be printing all four QR codes and displaying them at my table for passerby’s to connect with me instantly.

The codes in my business cards measure .75” x .75”. I thought they might be too small, but they scan just fine. I make my own business cards by using Picnic and cutting out the circles with my Silhouette.

So, what are you waiting for?? Go make your QR code and join in on the latest technology!

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

Major thanks to Linda @ Craftaholics Anonymous for introducing me to QR codes! You can see her step by step picture tutorial here.

Taco Soup by Jamie | a recipe

Hi guys! Jamie from Awesomely-Awkward here. I don't know about you but when the weather gets cold there is nothing better than a great bowl of soup. I don't have a lot of time to cook but I always want something hot and delicious for dinner... Insert taco soup.

It's super yummy, super easy, and cheap... what could be better? Just put it in your crock pot before you go to work and by the time you get home you're ready to eat. Enjoy!

Taco Soup:

Ingredients: -

2 pounds ground beef - 2cups diced onions -2 (15 1/2 oz.) cans pinto beans - 1 (15 1/2 oz.) can pink kidney beans - 1 (15 1/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn (drained) - 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can Mexican- style stewed tomatoes - 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes - 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can tomatoes with chilies - 2 (4 1/2 oz.) cans diced green chilies - 1 can black olives, drained and sliced - 1 package taco seasoning mix Garnishment of your choice: We eat ours with Frito's scoop chips. Cheese, sour cream, and jalapenos are good too.

How to Make:

Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet.

Drain fat, then transfer to crock pot.

Add all the rest of the ingredients (except garnishment of course). Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

 

It's that easy! Throw some shredded cheddar on the bad boy and eat up.

 

The best part is, it makes a whole bunch so we freeze more than half of this. It's a great quick dinner to pull out of the freezer when you don't want to cook. This recipe is not mine, meaning I did not create it. It is actually one of Paula Deen's recipes. Not exactly identical but close enough.

 

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I’m ready to make some of this. It sounds fantastic!!!
If you’ve never been to Jamie’s blog, you must visit. She’ll have you cracking up and relating on so many levels!!!

# kristanlynn
xoxo

DIY Family Halloween Costumes

Adelyn was so excited. We went to two Trunk or Treats, then hit up a neighborhood for the real deal. We should have just went to the neighborhood. She loved going to the houses. She’d walk up by herself, say “trick or treat” “thank you” then run to me and say “ok, lets go to the next house”.  I was so excited for her to experience Halloween like we did growing up!

Everyone commented on how we were the cutest family they’ve seen. They loved Adelyn’s Princess Cowgirl costume, and Stone w/ a cowboy hat… oh, let the hearts melt.

How was your Halloween??

# kristanlynn
xoxo