Just Look At Those Eyes

Today is National Jell-O Day, Pecan Pie Day (Dad’s favorite) Paper Bag Day and Different Colored Eyes. Jell-O is fun if you are making Jell-O Shots. It’s also great in that Pot-Luck Classic, The Pink Stuff. Or a Watergate Salad.

Did you know that Jell-O has been around since the late 1800s, and comes in 21 different flavors? Wow – that’s a lot of wiggly fun! As far as what to do on National Jell-O Day, all you need do is eat some. That’s it. You don’t even have to make it – most grocery markets carry Jell-O Cups and Jell-O Parfaits. How awesomely easy is that?

Moving right along . . . Pecan Pie. The earliest recipe in print dates back to 1897. However; the folks in Louisiana say they’ve been baking up Pecan Pies since the early 1800s no matter what the Lady’s Home Journal may say. Baking a Pecan Pie is a right of passage for Southern Born or Southern Raised cooks. While I’m not a fan of Pecan Pie – it’s a textural thing, but I do bake one for my Dad every Thanksgiving.

Which brings us to Paper Bag Day. Did you know that the first patent for a paper bag machines was in 1852? It was awarded to Mr. Francis Wolle, an American inventor. Next came William Goodale, who designed a machine to cut paper in such a way that it was ready for folding. But it took a woman to come up with the grocery bag with a flat-bottom that has been the norm since 1870. So thank you, Margaret Knight.

Finally, we come to the day that celebrates those rare people with two different colored eyes. Now there’s a lot out there about the causes filled all sorts of boring medical jargon. It boils down to three things – some are born with different colored eyes, some as a result of illness, while others (such as David Bowie) as a result of an injury. Heterochromia (Greek for different color) is more common in animals, while in people it is less than 1% of the population world-wide.

Guess that makes Hubby special. I always find it funny when people notice for the first time and ask “Hey, what color are your eyes?” His reply “I don’t know, you tell me.” Then he’ll open his eyes wide, and the general reaction is “Wow – that’s cool”. He has one eye the is brown, but sometimes looks more hazel, and the other is gray, but sometimes looks more blue.

And for the record, this is one of my favorite pictures of Hubby. It really doesn’t capture his distinct eye colors, but it does convey his twisted sense of humor.

Which brings me to today’s recipe share. Hubby is a true meat and potatoes kind of guy. He’ll take me out someplace fancy for a special meal, but if he had things his way simple, down home comfort foods rank almost as high as a good Mexican Dinner. What can I say, he’s a midwestern guy.

Hamburger Potato Casserole
1 lb Lean Ground Beef
4 medium russet Potatoes
1 Yellow Onion
2 cups Water, divided
1 envelop dry Onion soup Mix
2 envelops dry Brown Gravy Mix
1 cup Beef Stock

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Spray a large, deep casserole dish with cooking spray, set aside.

In a cast iron skillet, brown ground beef until no longer pink. As the meat browns, break into small pieces. Drain well, set aside until ready to use.

While the meat browns, wash and peel the potatoes. Slice potatoes into 1/4-inch strips. Place the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Add a cup of water to cover the potatoes, set aside.

Trim ends from the onion, peel and slice into rings. Break onion rings apart, set aside.

Sprinkle potatoes with onion soup mix. Place onion rings over the potato mixture, set aside.

In a bowl, whisk brown gravy mix with remaining cup of water until smooth. Whisk beef stock into the gravy mixture, set aside.

Scatter browned ground beef over the onion layer in the casserole dish. Gently pour or ladle the gravy mix over the entire casserole.

Cover casserole with foil. Place in the heated oven to bake for 45 hour. Remove foil, increase oven to 400-degrees and continue to cook until potatoes are tender and the gravy is beginning to thicken.

Remove from oven, stir and let sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This casserole goes great with buttery corn as a side for a complete supper the whole family is sure to enjoy.

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Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You.