Dinner in 20: Hashbrown Pizza

Anything called 'pizza' seems to go over better at dinner time. So I'll milk it for all I can. Tonight that meant getting creative for a crust. If your family isn't big on the green stuff, you can leave that out or substitute some other veggie that goes over better. Next time I might try (steamed)broccoli or shredded cabbage or even some thinly sliced zucchini.

Hashbrown Pizza with Spinach and Ham

2 or 3 boxes of hashbrowns (the ones with the dried potatoes)
Leaf spinach (optional)
Diced ham or turkey
Shredded cheese

Prepare the hasbrowns according to the directions on the box. After you turn them to brown the second side, top with spinach, meat, then cheese. Cover and reduce heat to medium or medium low and cook until greens are wilted and cheese is melted.

My kids really liked this tonight, your mileage may vary ;0)!

Another reason I haven't been blogging...

My eldest turned 16 this year and decided that he'd outgown the spaceships in his room. I had to agree. So at the every endof the summer, we repainted his room. This time it was done truly according to his tastes. Ok, well, he wanted to paint the walls black, but I nixed that and we agreed on a very deep gray. The ceiling is a metalic brushed silver, the accent wall and stripes are a deep wine color. It is very dramatic, but he loves it.

End of summer tip

When you are storing away your ice chests and water coolers for the season there is an easy way to keep them from picking up that stale/musty/off smell that they get when they sit around closed for a while.

Simply take a sheet or two of newspaper, crumple it loosely and put it inside the ice chest or cooler before you close it up. The newspaper absorbs any remaining moisture and smell from the cooler so when you open it the next time it is nice and fresh.

Sounds too simple, but it really really works.