4 Ingredient Chili

Even though the weather will start to turn warm, chili is one of those dishes I make all year.  It freezes beautifully, stretches the budget, and is very versatile.  You can eat it in a bowl topped with cheese, crackers, sour cream, etc.  Chili can be ladled over hotdogs in the summertime.  Chili also makes a yummy topping for nachos. 

Today I am home bound with my oldest having round two of strep throat.  When I was shopping yesterday, I found ground beef on sale.  While at the store I believed I had all the rest of the ingredients at home to make my classic chili recipe.  So, this morning when I went to the pantry to gather the ingredients, I realized I am out of crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, fire roasted tomatoes, and onion. 

Ok, so what do I have??? I had one can of stewed tomatoes, one can of chili beans, and left over pasta sauce. I always have minced dried onion in my spices, so I knew I could swap that for fresh onion.  I was back in business.

Now I have listed this as four ingredients because I am not technically counting the spices.  Spices are staples for a lot of us.  However, if you want to get picky you I guess it would be considered eight ingredients if  you count the four spices ;)

ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef (ground chicken or turkey work well too)
2 c. pasta sauce (jarred or home made)
1 14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 can Bush's chili beans

spices:
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. dried onion
2 tbsp. chili powder

In a large stock pot or deep fry pan (like a chicken fryer), brown meat with onion in about 2 tsp. oil. Once all the meat is browned, drain any excess grease.  Add the salt, pepper, and chili powder.  Cook the meat for another two to three minutes to allow the spices to develop. 

Add the tomatoes (breaking them up a bit), pasta sauce, and chili beans.  Combine and cover.  Simmer on low for about 30 minutes. 

That's it!  You are done. It's easy, delicious, and is a staple in our home.

My Dinner Date

I have been neglectful to my blog, my health, and my happiness.  That is a big statement, but true on all accounts.  I have become very complacent over the last few months, and have been trying to just get along.  Are there reasons for this? Absolutely.  Are these reasons excuses?  No, and nor should they be. I need to own it and change it.

So what brought about this epiphany?  A little visit from on old friend.  I was very blessed yesterday, when my dear friend traveled over 300 miles with a bad back to have dinner with me.  While we keep in touch through messaging, we haven't seen each other in about eighteen months.  She is moving on to a new chapter of her journey, but she took time out to have dinner with me.

We used to have lunch dates weekly when I lived in Oneonta (sometimes twice in one week).  During those lunch dates our friendship blossomed, and I knew I had a friend for life.  Our conversations ranged from food, to children, to travel, and to our passions.  I was remembering today a conversation from a few years back, that had my friend telling me she was thinking about changing her career path.  I was excited for her and one of her biggest supporters. 

A lot of people want to change things in life and do nothing.  What was different about her statement was, she actually did it.  She gathered the knowledge, training, and experience she needed and embarked on a new adventure.  I have always been so proud of her!

While remembering that moment today, I decided I am taking charge of the things I want to change.  First, my poor neglected blog.  I promise to keep updating recipes, crafts, and posting about the changes in our lives.  Secondly, I have slacked on my exercise regime for the last six months.  That is done!  I am getting back on my routine and putting myself first.  Finally, my happiness.  That will be the hardest one to work on.  I am a people pleaser, so I tend to say yes and put off my own needs. Let's just say that will be a work in progress.

My dinner date and late night conversation was inspiring. Sometimes the kick in the pants comes at the most unexpected times.  The trick is to recognize it and use it! 

Tomorrow I will rekindle my interest in the quilt I started over the summer.  I will keep you posted on how it goes :)

Easy Bias Scarf

Here's a quick little project for all my knitter friends.  I found this pattern in my Knitting For Dummies book.  I tackled it because it was simple and it would allow me to practice my increasing and decreasing.  I used a long self striping yarn, everyday yarn from Deborah Norville, found at JoAnn Fabric's.

The pattern itself is super duper easy:

Worsted Weight

Cast on 30 stitches.
Row 1: Increase the first stitch, knitting front to back, continue to knit, and knit last two stitches together.
Row 2: Knit.

Repeat until desired length.  I did 65 inches. The pattern said anywhere from 65 to 80 inches.  The scarf will knit on a diagonal, and with the striping yarn, it gives a neat look.

Enjoy!

What Will It Be???

Sometimes in life you are asked to be a part of something very special.  A few weeks ago, I was having some dark moments, when everything seemed very dim.  Then I got a message from a friend letting me know she was expecting.  That was wonderful news by itself. 

Then she asked if I would be a part of their special moment of revealing the gender?? I was thrilled!  I needed some happiness and this was right up my alley.  So, today the happy couple had their ultrasound to find out the gender.  I was brought the envelope, and I made a gender reveal cake for their party.

This was so exciting!! I know even before the expectant parents.  I treasure moments like these.  So what will it be? Boy or girl?  Well, I can't tell just yet.....I am awaiting pictures ;)

Here are a few pictures, although I blurred out the baby's last name....the writing is the daddy's original verbiage.

 

 

 

 

Brownie Trifle

We are going to my sister-in-law's for dinner tonight.  She recently moved into a new house, and it's then first time we are seeing it.  The kids are super excited about playing with their cousins, and I am excited about not having to cook dinner!

I am bringing dessert to the dinner party.  I was going through my head trying to figure out what to make. I knew anything chocolate is always popular.  So I decided to make a trifle. 

Trifle is so easy to make and always a hit.  It's basically assembly and layering.  I chose to make the individual components for each layer, but you can totally buy them.  Here's how it went together:

ingredients

1 batch of brownies, 9x13
4 c. prepared chocolate mousse or pudding
24 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
4 c. prepared whipped cream

The night before prepare mousse or pudding according to package directions or favorite recipe. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto mixture and allow to chill overnight or at least four hours.

Prepare your favorite brownie recipe.  Here's my fudgy brownie recipe.  Allow to cool and slice into small squares.

Prepare your whipped cream or use store bought whipped topping from the freezer section, but allow it to thaw. Fold in half of the crushed sandwich cookies.

In a glass serving bowl, put a layer of brownies (about half the pan) along the side and on the bottom.

Next build your layers.

Spoon in 2 cups of mousse or pudding, followed by 2 cups of whipped cream.

Next, layer of brownies.

Repeat the mousse and whipped cream.

Finally, spoon the remainder of the crushed cookies on the very top.

Allow to firm up in the fridge for a few hours.

Serve with a really big spoon!  Enjoy :)

Chicken Chili

It is so cold this morning. My toes felt frozen just from the short time at the bus stop.  It's days like these that makes me want to hunker down, read a book, and enjoy a hot bowl of something.  Today's something is chicken chili.

ingredients

2 lbs. ground chicken breast
1 small white onion
29 oz. can tomato sauce
14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
14.5 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Ancho Chili
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
pinch of sugar
salt & pepper to taste

In a large stock pot, brown ground chicken in a tablespoon of oil. Really allow the meat to cook and get browned, about 10 minutes.  Add the spices and allow to coat and cook on the ground chicken for 3 to 4 minutes.

Add tomato sauce, diced, and stewed tomatoes.  Allow to simmer on low for 20 minutes.  Finally add the chili beans and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. 

Freezes well for about 3 to 4 months.

Pineapple & Cream Smoothie

OK, it's 2015. Everyone is on a new year, new you campaign.  I admit, I have fallen susceptible to those campaigns in the past too.  I do try to actively live a healthy lifestyle, and sometimes have set backs as we all do.  I just release the guilty feelings and move on to healthier choices.

In the spirit of things of a new year, let's get healthy, I will share a smoothie recipe.  It's simple, delicious, light and refreshing.  It makes a great breakfast, dessert, or snack.  It is also another way for me to get in some yogurt, which I really really don't like. 

My recipes for smoothies don't include protein powder or other supplements.  However, if you already incorporate those items into your diet, feel free to add it to the smoothie.

recipe (three 8 oz. servings)

3 c. frozen pineapple chunks
2 1/4 c. almond milk, (you can use skim milk too)
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Simply combine all the ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth.  If the mixture is thick you can add a bit more milk.  Serve immediately.