August 19, 2008

Tater Tot Casserole and Stamped Napkin Project

All this redecorating made me hungry so I decided to fix one of my easiest and quickest suppers last night. We love tater tot casserole and it's so easy! It only takes ground beef, creme of mushroom soup, onion, cheese and a bag of tater tots. Hubby likes the mini-tots or "crowns" (so he doesn't think he's eating as many carbs as the "bigger" tots!)







Just brown the ground beef, adding a finely chopped onion. I realized I did not add the onion so I used some pico de gallo I had in the refrigerator which was a mixture of onion and red and green peppers - added a little zing but still tasty!

Top it off with the bag of tater tots and cook at 350 for about 30-45 minutes, until the tater tots are done. You can add grated cheese if you like

Look at all that dripping butter from the corn on the cob -- Paula Deen would be so proud of me!







NELL HILL INSPIRED STAMPED NAPKIN PROJECT

I love anything Mary Carol Garrity of Nell Hill's fame does. Her home and shop are always such an inspiration to me. While she can be a little "over the top" for most day-to-day real life, you can still adapt her ideas to your own use. When I saw her tablescapes and stamped napkins, I saved the pictures because I knew I wanted to try and recreate the napkin ideas.



Love the initials on this napkin


Fall-ish table setting


Gorgeous stamped monogram on linen


Here she uses a square frame as her "charger"


(above photos courtesy of Nell Hills)


So I went and purchased some linen napkins...ironed out the wrinkles.....




Got my fleur de lis stamp......



...and came up with this.










You can see where I played around with the napkin....first putting it on top of the salad plate and then underneath. I think I like it under the plate best


And while it's not as "grand" as Nell Hill's napkins, I think I've came pretty close to duplicating her stamped napkin effect






I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful suggestions left about what to do with the inside of my three corner cupboard. One of my sweet blogging friends e-mailed me that I might want to just paint it instead of using the scrapbook paper (which was the suggestion I got most) because the paper might clash with my vingettes. I tend to agree with her so for now, I will just leave it painted until I come up with a color that I think will look good. Who knows when or what that will be!


EDITED TO ADD: A lot of ya'll have asked about the ink I used for the napkins. I got both ink pads at Hobby Lobby. The brown one is called "Saddle Brown" and the cover of the pad is called Staz On. It also says it's for every surface but when I just now read the back, it says it's not recommended for fabric. Oh, well, I've never been much on following directions! I'm not planning on using the napkins other than for "looks" so hopefully I won't have to wash the napkins to see if the ink stays on. The black ink pad just says "Dye Ink Pad" (acid free). I think this ink is supposed to be used for stamping on paper projects....again, I didn't read the back! This little project was a lot of fun so I'm going to be doing more napkins but first I think I'll buy more "appropriate" paint! Thought I'd give ya'll the heads up since it seems like a lot of you want to try this. It would be a good idea if you buy ink made for stamping on fabric.

33 comments:

  1. I make tater tot casserole too, but have never used an onion in it before. I'll have to try it since I just bought a bag of onions the other day. The napkins look so pretty and very expensive! Wouldn't they make great gifts?!

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  2. Ohh I love tator tot cassarole too. One of my dh's faves. I love nell Hill's ....your napkins came out lovely! Good choice on the corner shelf..whatever you decide it will be gorgeous. cherry

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  3. Your tablescapes with the new stamped linen napkins look beautiful...and thanks for the reminder of how yummy Tater Tot Casserole is...I haven't made one in a while...think I will soon.
    ;-) Bo

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  4. Looks professional! Great job. Love when something is simple and elegant.

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  5. Judy

    This looks wonderful---and how easy, even I can do this!

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  6. My mother used to make tater tot casserole when we were growing up! I haven't had it in years - maybe I'll make it soon.
    Your stamped napkins look great!

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  7. I love the napkins, what a great idea! Gosh, if I get any more inspirations from you and other creative bloggers...I'll explode!
    I've got so many projets on my to do list!
    The tatter tot casserole looks yummy and so easy. My husband loves casseroles which is great! There are always leftovers to freeze for future meals!
    How's the kitchen coming?

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  8. I love the napkin. I want to do it. It would be a great Christmas present. I've never stamped on fabric..do I buy a certain kind? ink? What about when the napkin is washed...does it affect the stamp?

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  9. I love your napkins with the stamp. So beautiful!!! I am so glad I stumbled across your blog~ It has been fun going through it so far.

    Now back to reading~

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  10. Hi Judy,
    I think that your napkins turned out beautiful. And I can't wait to try your tater tot casserole; I am always looking for good quick meals that the kids will eat.
    -Cheers, Amy

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  11. Judy,

    I love your napkins with the stamp. I am so going to copy that idea. They look so very elegant and just the extra touch for a great table setting.

    Gretchen
    birdnestcottage.typepad.com

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  12. Hey, Judy, I love how your napkin came out. I might have to try that. I see linen napkins all the time when I'm out there yardsaling. They just aren't practical for actually 'using', but do look great on the table.

    Would aqua work at all on your corner cupboard for the background? That color sure looks great with browns & lattes. Might be a thought! Can you tell I have aqua on the brain?! LOL

    Rhoda

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  13. Wow. Now I'm hungry.

    Quick sill, dumb, i've never stamped before, question.

    Do you use ink or paint with the stamping projects?

    I'm guessing you paint craft paint on to the stam then press it into the napkin.

    I've also seen a lot of folks stamping plates. I would love to do this to, but I need to learn the method to the maddess :)

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  14. LOVE it! You did an amazing job with that stamp! Perfect alignment.
    Melissa

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  15. Love anything fleur de lis....I will be posting pics of my bathroom where I stenciled fleur de lis and applied a faux finish soon.

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  16. OH MAN...it's midnight and boy did that casserole look GOOD. Now I'm starving!!!

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  17. I am just a table setting crazy person!! I love what you did with the napkin stamping. I saw that monogrammed napkin and brown dishes at her Store in KC, last Fall. All the F's were gone!! I would have bought them then and there, without even thinking of cost, they were so wonderful! I did buy four place settings of the dishes, though. Thanks to you, Judy, I am inspired to make my own MCG/Nell Hill's napkins!

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  18. ooooo, boy...I can hardly wait to go get some linen napkins and do the same thing...you did a wonderful job...as usual, my friend...
    Most of the time, with our hugh family, we use red Solo cups, paper plates and paper napkins...but, when I have my sweet group of lil' ole ladies over, I LOVE to show off some of my pretties!

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  19. Love the napkin idea. And I really wanted to comment about the tater tot casserole. I've been making and eating this for years. And it's one of the few things my picky 2yo son will eat. Yum!

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  20. I have never had tater tot casserole.... but I am going to try yours since it looks so good and sounds easy enough to make!!!
    Your stamped napkin turned out great! I would have never guessed it was stamped if you hadn't said so!!! I saw the vignette at Nell Hills while visiting last fall and while it was pretty those napkins were $12 a piece which could really add up if enetertaining a bunch of guests. I think yours look just as good :o)
    ~Des

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  21. Great post! I am going to try the casserole and the stamped napkins! The napkins are so pretty! What type of paint did you use and are they washable?

    Love your shelf and vignettes below! ~Rhonda :)

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  22. the napkin looks very expensive, great inspiration! i see so many napkins in my thrifting, that would be a great way to treat them

    Sarah

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  23. That casserole looks and sounds so yummy!
    As for your cabinet, I like the idea of painting it. I would have only used a cream colored damask (tone on tone) scrap-booking paper, no colors or noticeable designs.
    Those stamped linen napkins are wonderful! I am going to have to try my hand at that project for sure.

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  24. Your comments have really made me smile the last couple of days! I'm sorry to be so much trouble lately. :) You might be in some trouble yourself, as I love that napkin stamping idea!

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  25. I've never heard of that casserole, but it sounds really good, and easy too, so I may give it a try.

    And I love how your napkin turned out. I love Nell Hill too, and you did a great job of replicating her place settings. Very pretty.

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  26. Yum...an easy, but tasty recipe. Thanks.

    The napkins turned out great. So pretty.

    Hugs!
    Kat

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  27. Where does the cream of mushroom soup come into play in the casserole?

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  28. Judy,
    This is my first visit to your blog and have certainly enjoyed myself, and I LOVE your style. I am planning on decorating our new home in that same "European Shabby Chic" style...well I coined that term myself. I am adding you to my blog roll, so I can come for inspiration.
    ~Jill

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  29. Hello!
    I just found your blog the other day and now you've gone and made me hungry for tater tot casserole!
    I'm off to get some tots!
    I love your blog and the napkins turned out beautiful!
    Amy~

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  30. I love the stamp on the napkins ...that is such a wonderful idea! I love the tator tot casserole...my kids love it too and it's so easy!
    -Sandy Toes

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  31. I love me some tater tot casserole, and you're right -- it's super easy!

    As with your pico, this recipe lends itself well to adaptation. I've thrown in chopped canned mushrooms at times, or other little things I want to use.

    We don't have leftover tater tot casserole around here.

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