Well, we survived! I've just got the kids off to school and feel like I'm experiencing a holiday hangover. My hands are so numb from carpal tunnel that I can't even type without hand braces on!
My Easter dinner went well and what wasn't what I'd hoped wasn't due to anything I did or didn't do. I still haven't adjusted to holidays with this family. At ours growing up people just "hung out" for the day: snitching food, playing games, watching tv, kids going outside and playing, maybe drinks would be served, etc. For some reason my husband's family isn't like that--they pretty much come, eat, stay for a few hours and leave. I haven't quite figured out the reason behind it--just a more formal family, I think. Someone brought me a bottle of wine as a hostess gift and I had some left over from the chicken so I put that out thinking it might loosen them up a bit but no one touched it except the half a glass I had. :smile:
This morning I'm left with three rooms that look better than they have in years and three that are full of the stuff that were moved out due to painting, making room for the tables, or stashing so I've got plenty on my plate. But it feels good to finally have some improvements made to the house!
Here's the potato recipe I made if anyone is interested. It worked well for a busy holiday meal since everything was do ahead the night before and just needed to be dumped into a
crockpot and stirred occasionally. I was wondering if the hash browns would make it seem informal but the cheeses and sour cream richened it up plenty.
Big Batch Hash Brown Casserole
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups milk
1 cup sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon finely chopped onion, optional
3 pounds hash browns (12 cups) left in fridge overnight
Combine ingredients except hash browns and mix thoroughly. Stir in hash browns. Pour into large greased baking dish 9 x 10 or larger. Bake at 375 for 1 hour of until bubbly. Remove from oven and let set 10 minutes before serving. May sprinkle with additional cheddar cheese if desired.
Do ahead crock pot instructions: Mix all ingredients except hash browns the night before and refrigerate overnight in sealed bowl. Put hash brown packages in refrigerator. When ready to cook, nonstick spray crockpot well. Add hash browns and cheese mixture, stirring thoroughly. Cook on high for 4 hours stirring about every 30 minutes.
SRL, at home alone with 2 nearly full bottles of wine, leftovers, tons of Easter candy, and 3 messy rooms...