This Year It’s All About Aprons
Several months ago, after ruining a brand new blouse with splattering spaghetti sauce, I told myself I wouldn’t cook again without wearing an apron. For the most part, I’ve stuck to that and always have an apron hanging behind the pantry door. If you don’t keep your aprons close by, you won’t wear one. I figured that out for you, no extra charge.
I wasn’t alone when I ruined my shirt, no no, we had company for dinner and I was doing my best impression of someone who knows how to cook. I was making stuffed pasta shells and I’d gotten to the bit where I poured the sauce.
If I’d been wearing one of these nifty denim aprons from Chef Works, I would have been able to wipe off the sauce, take off the apron and serve dinner. As it happened, I had to excuse myself and change my clothes. I swore I’d never do that again.
I heard about Chef Works from Julie at Gourmet Getaways and secretly wished they’d email me to discuss a post and I’d get a new apron. A week later and it happened – I received two Chef Works aprons to test and test I have.
These denim aprons from their Urban Collection are 100% cotton with reinforced stress points. I don’t know about you but I tend to tear my aprons where the tie meets the apron and that doesn’t happen on these. I went to dinner at a local restaurant last week and the servers were wearing denim aprons that looked just like these and they all looked neat and professional. To me, nothing is more icky than seeing a server wearing a white apron with spots on it. Denim hides a lot of secrets and still looks good.
Chef Works has a large collection of top quality aprons and the Urban Collection is named after cities in the US so I instantly got homesick. The prices range from $27.95 from the bib-less aprons to $42.95 for the top of the line. I’ve paid more for an apron so I think these are quite reasonable for the quality.
Chef Works Denim Aprons – Shop Now
I wore my new apron to make this sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel topping. It’s one of my favourite side dishes for Thanksgiving. I know I’m Australian / American but everyone anywhere on the planet is or should be grateful for the blessings they’ve received. So in that respect, here’s my recipe for sweet potato casserole. It’s ridiculously easy to make and if you have a sweet tooth, you’d agree to come to my house to enjoy this.
- 4½ cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ⅓ cup milk
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F Butter a large baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mash sweet potatoes with1/2 cup butter, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs.
- Pour sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the surface.
- In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and flour. Cut in ⅓ cup butter until mixture is crumbly, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle pecan streusel mixture over the sweet potatoes.
- Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
Thanks to Chef Works for sponsoring this post and providing John and I with an apron each. No more slobs!
Chef Works Australia
8/77-79 Bourke Road
Alexandria, NSW 2014
Phone 1-300-362-228
The sweet potato casserole looks gorgeous with the streusel topping. What a lovely inaugral dish to go with the apron! The aprons look smart and I love denim..need to get my hands on them soon.
Guilty of non-apron cooking. And no excuses because one of my sisters gave me not one, not two, but three aprons over the years. I don’t know where they are, actually one I think is hanging behind the door between the kitchen and the garage.
I hope she doesn’t read your blog…. I really do.
I love that streusel topping – much more appealing to me than marshmallows. Such a cute apron too – I LIVE in my aprons. I’ll often find that I’ve finished dinner and have forgotten to take it off – so I suppose it doubles as a bib. 😉
I can’t tell you how many shirts etc I’ve ruined from food splatters. You’d think I’d learn and wear an apron. But noooo, not me. I really should look into these — they look great. And what a lovely sweet potato casserole. Pecans and sweet potatoes are magic together, aren’t they?
These are masculine aprons, John. You’d like them. 🙂 They’re the manly thing to wear.
I am an apron wearer Maureen – I love them and have quite a collection – JR even gave me a very nice one once for Valentine’s Day – it is my entertaining apron. I have also worn aprons out – literally fallen apart from over use! And as you say they do save your clothes.
I agree that you need an apron and you need to keep your apron at reach. Especially at this time of year when we spend so much time in the ktichen. I just splattered oil on a silk blouse I bought in NY so I’ve been covering myself in an apron ever since. I’m also icing Christmas cakes so there’s lots of icing sugar flying around so an apron is essential. Your sweet potato casserole looks wonderful and I love how it’s seasoned with white pepper xx
You’ll be safe and clean now and don’t they look grea?t. I love the denim apron so much. There is nohing worst than being served by a waiter in a filthy grotty apron
I’ve never worn an apron in my life. My mom used to wear one for work over her uniform and then when got home she didn’t put one on either. We were women who did our cooking on the edge. 🙂
Great sweet potato side dish.
What a great post, and just look at those trendy denim aprons! Wow… and you are getting so skinny ma’am!
So, I have several gorgeous aprons and I think it’s about time I started wearing them again! Love this sweet potato dish, and I know my Peter will too… thank you for sharing xo
Hey, I love your apron! Also, I love this recipe, too late for Thanksgiving dinner but Christmas is lurking around the corner. Thanks, 🙂
yes.. I rarely wear aprons.. as you say.. only when I do remember .. but it is really helpful.. especially when I am making bread dough.. Your sweet potato casserole sounds delicious.. never had it this way
These days I feel like I basically LIVE in an apron, I got in the habit and now it’s always on! I have to say those sweet potato casseroles look and sound AMAZING, what a delicious treat!
I was in the middle of my own apron post when your new post arrived ! Denim is the best for hiding the worst of what you can get up to in the kitchen! One of these days I am going to make my sweet potatoes into something other than a roasted side dish. I think this may be the recipe that can nudge me that direction! Yum!
Simply my favorite Thanksgiving side dish… Since I have a very sweet tooth, I add marshmallows to mine. 🙂 I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, Maureen!
What a darling apron. I never cook without one. I have wrecked so many nice clothes. I finally learned my lesson! This Sweet Potato Casserole looks wonderful!
I think my girls will love this dish Maureen, we eat a lot of sweet potatoes. I always wear an apron, of course for work, but also at home. The denim one looks very trendy indeed 🙂
G’day I LOVE this dish and can almost smell it from here Maurren!
I wish I could come through the screen and try it now and wish more people were simply appreciative every day!
Cheers! Joanne
It’s all about the pecan streusel topping and I do love that apron. 🙂
They sure are lovely aprons. I have a few and like you, often forget to put one on (I’ve ruinrd s few tops that way). When I food style I always wear one.
Someone brought a similar sweet casserole to my brother’s thanksgiving dinner and it was just too sweet for my taste, but my husband loved it.
Who says you can’t look trendy in the kitchen! Love these aprons. Wishing for one myself.
This sweet potato casserole looks out-of-this-world delicious! Love it!!!!
Haha I know what you mean with the apron. For me, I always finish the meal, take the apron off and then serve… that’s when I get messy! It happens every time!
I need to get better at using an apron. I’ve ruined so many shirts. 🙂 This sweet potato casserole is such a delicious classic! I could eat the whole thing!
I love these aprons! I have mine hanging in the kitchen and they make me smile cuz they’re so darn cute and totally impractical. 🙂
I say this all the time and yet forget to wear one. Yesterday I dropped a spoon covered in beetroot puree and it went ALL OVER my dress. Hopefully it comes out. These look great. Very classy. Casserole looks rather delicious too!
You reading in my mind, this week I wanted cook a velouté with sweet potato ! Your recipe looks very nice. Today is very cold in here, your plat will be perfect for the dinner !
This apron was my favourite’s one when I saw in Julie’s blog! I think is very sexy 😉
What a nice apron…it always seems to me that I spill more food stuffs when others are around too!! I looove sweet potato casserole. It’s one of my favorites for the holidays so I shall have to use your recipe soon!
Those are some nice, hefty aprons! I do wear aprons and keep several in my kitchen, one hanging nearby always!! My holiday ones are out right now… a girl has to look festive and pretty even in her kitchen!! And while mine are more on the soft side, I can see wearing this for a few occassions. I need to go check them out. Thanks for sharing.
These were a bit masculine for me and at barely 5′ tall, they were too long but the quality really impressed me.
I’ll come, I’ll come!! I have a long list of things I’d like fresh out of the oven, waiting for me when I come knocking on your door, and these are on the list!! Love the streusel topping – I’m going to try it on a baked french toast this weekend!! Thanks for sharing Maureen!
I love that idea!
Aww, aren’t you a honey linking to my story 🙂
I think I should have saved one of those aprons for myself, I had a wardrobe malfunction the other day. I was wearing a black dress and using flour in the kitchen. I rushed out to the kids school without looking down. Anais kindly pointed out I had obviously been cooking when I went into her class.
Love the look of this casserole, I so want to try that topping!!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I would eat this as the main dish I love sweet potatoes!
I am super messy too & I don’t have an apron…probably should change that! Love that the aprons are denim, super cute!
This dish looks so delicious. Definitely something I’d want to dive in on a cold wintery day.
Cool aprons…I always have aprons hanging at the kitchen but barely use them until something happens and I am like “I should know better…”
I love, love the idea of the pecan streusel….they sure add a different texture to the sweet potato…great recipe Maureen, as usual 🙂
Have a great week!
Cute aprons Maureen! I don’t tend to wear aprons-that’s bad isn’t it? Especially since I have a drawer full of them! 😛
I don’t know which one I want more – the apron or the sweet potato casserole! The aprons do look very cool!
This is a cool apron Maureen! I have ‘cooking’ clothes but should wear an apron more often. Love the sweet potato casserole – made something very similar for our Thanksgiving. Have a great week!
I’m terrible when it comes to wearing an apron. I don’t know why but I hate wearing them…unless they are cute and stylish ha!
I once spilled marinara sauce on a crisp white dress shirt but I managed to salvage it! 😀 The trick to getting those tough stains out is this – after you wipe the spill, mix some baking soda, a drop of lemon and a few drops of seltzer together. It’ll bubble! Then rub it into the stain. Wipe again (and if necessary repeat), otherwise put some detergent there and leave it until laundry day. Or, ya know, you could just wear an apron ;D
Anywho, this casserole sounds heavenly, Maureen! Sweet potatoes and pecans are my two favorite winter ingredients. Yummy!
Hope you had a lovely holiday.
xo,
Tammy<3
P.S.
how's Charlie??! Been missing him on IG 🙁 …Inka says hi! ;D <33
Oh I love love LOVE the apron. I’m a pretty clean cook, guess thats from years working in the kitchen and needing to look presentable and pretty for service. My Momma loves sweet potato, I might make this casserole for her over the weekend. 🙂 Thanks Lovely for the brownie points Ill get from Ma. 🙂
I came close to ruining something in the kitchen too. I started working in the kitchen in my dress clothes instead of changing when I came home from work. BIG NO NO. Yes, I should keep an apron close. I use to. So thanx for the shove in the right direction. I love the casserole too. It’s one that would be brought out at holiday time, but why not any ol’ time.
I try to wear aprons though they tend to bother my neck (I suffer from chronic neck pain). They are an absolute must when I’m pitting cherries though! 😉 Your casserole looks perfect for any Thanksgiving dinner, and that streusel topping is perfection!
Most aprons are too ugly looking, but your apron looks so stylish. 😉 These dish sounds decadant1
Hi friend! Made this last night for a dinner party, and it was a hit (of course!). 🙂
Hi Maureen! I know the star of Thanksgiving is the turkey, but for me it’s all about the sides (and dessert)! I love sweet potato casserole, but not with marshmallows! This looks wonderful!