Yummy Homemade Chili for the New Year....

 

Well, I decided to use my new Lodge Dutch oven to cook our chili in for our New Year's Eve party tonight. My sweet family got this awesome gift for me for Christmas! I love those guys so much.

 

 

I thought I would share this really good homemade chili recipe with you just in case you would like to make some of this yummy, hot, goodness on an upcoming cold night.

 

 

 

Homemade Chili Recipe



 

 

2 pounds of ground meat, I used ground vension

1/4 cup cooking oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small can of tomato sauce

1 can no salt added petite diced tomatoes

1 15 ounce can of chili beans

1 cup water

1/3 cup chili powder

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 - 1 Tablespoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup ketchup

 

In a large Dutch oven, saute your onions and garlic until translucent. Add your ground meat and cook until done. Add your remaining ingredients and cook on low for about an hour.

 

ENJOY!!!!!

 

 

GOD BLESS!

 

 

Lots of goodies......

A few months ago, the bugs and I mailed 20 UPC labels to Sunny D in exchange for 20 books. Yes, I said 20 books! 20 labels for 20 brand new scholastic books. We were so happy to receive our little package of books. I am so happy we decided to participate in the Sunny D book spree this year. Look for it next year and save those Sunny D UPC's!

Look at all those books!

And, I will be catching up on my fun days soon!

Days 3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9......

Well, our days have kinda run together. I always like to think that each day will go as planned, but after 8 years of homeschooling, I should know better.

Day 3 should have been making caramels and nothing got really got done that day except grocery shopping. Which by the way, is always an adventure in itself! 

Day 4 was National Cookie Day and so for that day, we made the No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal cookies, just a day late!

Day 5 I planned to make the No Bake Pecan Coconut Cookies and we changed our minds, so instead, we mixed up a batch of our Homemade Hot Cocoa mix.

Day 6, scratched everything and went Christmas shopping!!!

Day 7 was Cotton Candy day so everyone at some yummy cotton candy vanilla snow that I found at the dollar tree. It was a hit!

Day 8 was National Brownie day! Made some really yummy brownies.

Today is Day 9 and we were going to make homemade Christmas cards for the family but one of the bugs hurt her ankle yesterday on the trampoline so we are all taking turns catering to her needs while she stays on the couch all day resting!
 

Maybe tomorrow we will do as planned!!!

 

See my sweet little helper! She loves cooking with Mommy!

 

 

Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

 

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1/2 cup peanut butter

 

Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan. On medium heat, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.

 

Remove from heat and stir in peanut butte, vanilla and oatmeal.

 

Drop teaspoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool for 30 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

 

1 cup cocoa

2 cups powdered sugar

2 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk

1 cup coffee creamer

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 cup Jet Puffed Mallow Bits

 

Mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

 

To make one cup of hot cocoa, add 3 heaping tablespoons of cocoa mixture to 1 cup of really hot water.

 

Enjoy!

Day 2 - easiest peanut butter fudge ever.....

Today, my little Sadie bug wanted to help me make this peanut butter fudge. She is always the one that wants to help me cook. She has been wanting to fill the little plates on this Christmas tree stand I sat out on our table a few days ago. I have to say, we had fun making it but it didn't quite turn out like smooth, chewy fudge. It was very crumbly and brittle. I think I would change it up a little and add more milk or maybe a little cream.  I can't remember where I ran across this recipe. Anyway, here is the recipe!

EASIEST PEANUT BUTTER EVER

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add the sugar and milk to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for 2 1/2 minutes. Remove it from the heat and add the peanut butter and vanilla extract and mix well. Pour into a shallow dish and , your done! Let it cool and cut into squares!

Looking forward to Day 3! More cooking and hopefully decorate our Christmas tree!

God Bless!

2014 December Fun Days and Holidays....

December is here! We can't hardly wait for this time of year. Twinkling lights, baking cookies, singing and listening to Christmas hymns, wrapping gifts, drinking hot cocoa.

We love so many things about December and have so many fun things planned this month. Maybe you could join in on some of the fun.

Stay tuned because we will have lots of pictures to share, great recipes, crafts and more! We are also doing Christmas reading in our bibles. I know I am a little late posting all of this but I will post our scripture we are reading soon.

Here are the holidays and fun days for the 1st 25 days of December.....


Day 1 -  Decorate the inside of our home for Christmas.

Day 2 -  More decorating, putting up the Christmas tree and making No-Bake Fudge. Will share the recipe.

Day 3 -  Make some yummy microwave caramels. Not to fond of cooking in the microwave but my stove is out of commission right now.

Day 4 -  National Cookie Day! We will be making No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal cookies. Will share the recipe.

Day 5 -  We will be making No Bake Pecan Coconut Cookies.

Day 6 -  Make balls out of chicken wire and Christmas lights for outdoor decorations and go see a Live Nativity.

Day 7 -  Cotton Candy Day!

Day 8 -  National Brownie Day! We are going to make Nutella ones.

Day 9 -  Christmas Card Day!

Day 10 - Make some No Bake Oreo Truffles and if we have enough time, maybe some chocolate covered oreos.

Day 11 - Celebrate National Hot Cocoa Day. Its really this coming Saturday.

Day 12 - Make a Christmas Tree Hand Canvas and some fingerpaint canvases.

Day 13 - Ice Cream Day!

Day 14 - Make homemade wrapping paper.

Day 15 - National Cupcake Day!

Day 16 - National Chocolate covered anything day!

Day 17 - Make photo ornaments for the grands!

Day 18 - Make cookie baskets for our Christmas cookies and our annual Van Express Ticket Day!

Day 19 - Christmas Party with friends!

Day 20 - Bake lots of Christmas cookies!

Day 21 - Winter Soltice!

Day 22 - Deliver gifts to the local hospital to the children that are sick.

Day 23 - National Chocolate Day tomorrow! Make something yummy!

Day 24 - Christmas Eve Boxes and bake Jesus a birthday cake!

Day 25 - Celebrate Jesus' birthday and drink some homemade eggnog. Yesterday was National Eggnog Day.




As you can see, we are planning on having some fun this month. Maybe you can check back and see some of the fun things we will be doing!

God Bless!