Meal Planning with Connie

Smashed Potatoes Smashed Potatoes These potatoes are very similar to the ones served at J. Alexander’s restaurants, which are absolutely delicious! J. Alexander's Smashed Potatoes are probably my favorite restaurant potatoes! Play around with the ingredients until you find the combination your family likes best! I usually go light on the butter and milk, allowing the potato flavor to come through and the texture to be a bit on the dry side, for mashed potatoes. This makes them taste more like J. Alexander’s potatoes - to me. Russet Potatoes, 1 large potato per person Cube unpeeled potatoes into 1 - 1 ½ inch pieces. Boil potatoes until tender: drain. Smash with a hand-held potato “smasher,” leaving nice ¼ -inch pieces in the potatoes. Gently add a combination of these ingredients to taste: salt white pepper freshly chopped or dried parsley grated Parmesan cheese butter half and half and/or milk

Our Favorite Meatloaf Our Favorite Meatloaf I think all Southern cooks have their favorite meatloaf recipe, usually their mom's or grandmother's. This is our favorite. It is just one I've tweaked over the past 20-plus years. It fairly fills a 9x13-inch baking dish. I sometimes cook half of the mixture in an 8x8-inch baking dish and freeze the other half. I really like cooking the individual meatloaves. I usually cook four of the mini loaves and freeze the four. One of my favorite meals is this meatloaf served with Smashed Potatoes , green beans and homemade biscuits. 2 pounds ground beef 1  teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with onions and pepper, undrained 1 cup quick-cooking oats Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Mix all meatloaf ingredients well. Shape into a loaf and place in prepared baking dish. Topping: 1 cup ketchup 4 tablespoons br

 Peanut Buttery Brownies Peanut Buttery Brownies 1 box family-size (9x13) brownies, prepared according to package directions. Peanut Butter Icing (recipe below) desired amount of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chopped Peanut Butter Icing: 1 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned or freshly ground) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 - 4 tablespoons milk Combine peanut butter and butter in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies in pan. Sprinkle peanut butter cups over frosting, gently pressing the candy into the icing. Cut into squares.