Cheesy (Hashbrown) Potatoes

I'm a super picky eater. Fortunately, I'm changing that by trying new foods and recipes. Unfortunately, it also means I'm stuck in some of my habits. Every time I go to am outing and have potatoes as my dish to pass, I choose this recipe. It is quick and simple without requiring a ton of odd ingredients or a lot of preparation. Most of my family love these potatoes as well, which means I always have to make two or three batches. I don't want to ramble, so here's the recipe.

Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes

2 lbs frozen hash browns, thawed *I typically use Ore Ida Potatoes O'Brien*
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 stick margarine, melted
1 pint sour cream
8 oz grated cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Mix all and put into a greased 9"x13" pan.
Optional: Top with 1 cup crushed potato chips or corn flake crumbs
Bake at 375F for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden and melted.

Note: If your potatoes are not completely thawed, they will take longer to cook, but still work fine. Usually if you get them out the day of the event, you'll be fine.

Cheers,
Rocka

Ugh... Valentine's Day

The declaration of Valentine's Day dates back to 498 when it was declared by Pope Gelasius. It was meant to be a day of romance as it celebrated fertility and the beginning of Spring which brought forth bird mating season. In the early 1700s, Americans started exchanging handmade valentines and the tradition continued until they were mass-produced and sold in 1840 by Esther A. Howland. Now, an estimated 1 billion valentines are sent each year (second only to Christmas with 2.6B) and approximately 85% of them are purchased by women.

Now that we have a little background information, this brings me to my point about Valentine's Day. I have never been a fan of the holiday in my entire life. As a young child it was always cute to exchange the little cards with that year's cartoon character craze. As I got older that wore off and I realized it was more about men trying to impress their women and people saying I love you every 2 minutes. Yes, I may be exaggerating on the frequency, but I think everyone gets my point. I've had my fair share of single Valentine's Days and a few where I've been in a relationship (including the past 2 and this year). However, I still don't like the holiday and it's at no fault of my boyfriend's.



There are a few reasons why it makes me say Ugh... Valentine's Day each year when the month of February comes around.

First and foremost, it is supposed to be a day of romance and I think it has sort of lost that touch. It does make people seem more romantic, but why can't we be romantic every day rather than just on February 14th of every year? I say I love you when I mean it, not when a holiday tells me it should be said. I think a lot more of that should happen, because we never know it will be our last chance. I'm not trying to be depressing about it, but I always think it is important to share emotions when we feel them. That doesn't mean gushing whatever is in our heads to random people. I certainly don't walk up to someone in the grocery store and say whatever is on my mind, but a friendly smile or a 'make it a great day' go a long way.

Secondly, Valentine's Day has become just as commercialized as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day. This really bothers me and pains me to admit. It pains me because my favorite holiday is Christmas. While many love the holiday for presents, I'm not different. However, I love it even more for the traditions and the time with family since we aren't together as one big group very often. Anyway, back to the commercialization bothering me. It does so mostly because it's become more about chocolate and flowers, than about the sweet little love notes. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect an actual love letter, but something other than buying a card at the store and slapping a 'Love, So-and-so' on it would be better in my opinion. It's absolutely ridiculous that flower shops and other stores may double or even triple their prices on roses just because they know they can get away with it. Every time I'm in town, I drive past a sign every time I go into town that says 'Roses $14.99 dozen', but come Valentine's Day, it is at least $24.99 a dozen. I understand the demand is higher, that we have a free market economy and that's how it works, but it seriously did not cost anymore for those flowers to be grown for Valentine's Day than it does for the non-holiday times of the year.



Lastly, my irk about Valentine's Day is about the stupid tradition we learn as a kid. When I was in elementary school, we had classroom parties for Valentine's Day. Inevitably that meant every student brought in a Valentine card (typically sold in a box of which leaves you short or provides way too many) for each classmate and sometimes the teacher. That's fine I get that it's cute and kids don't know any better. My beef is about the other side of it which is the chalky heart shaped candies that tasted no better than your average antacid. They didn't taste good then, and I'm not sure they taste any better nowadays. Every year at least a couple of students would bring in boxes of chalky hearts as their Valentine or we would eat them with the pizza during the classroom party. Back then they were cute and said 'Kiss' or 'Hug', but now the tradition has gotten raunchier and more illiterate. Texting phrases and shorthand are used which make them an even more stupid tradition.

So yes, I've said I hate Valentine's Day. Whenever I mention this out loud, I get the eye roll of the century from whoever hears it. I don't completely boycott the holiday, but I don't follow the traditions of it either. For me personally, it is more about romance and love and a lot less about flowers and chocolate. I try to choose gifts that are more meaningful and personal to the recipient than following the commercial traditions set forth by the greeting card and candy companies and florists. I also don't think I'll ever pass up a romantic dinner and a fun date with my boyfriend on February 14th, even if he insists on the dang flowers.



Cheers,
Rocka