Chili Mac

Last night I made an oldie, but a goodie. Chili Mac. I got this recipe years ago on the old Steph's Country Kitchen Goodness website. You can find her new blog here, Steph's Kitchen.

I've changed the recipe a little over the years. We love it.

Chili Mac

1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/4  C. diced onion
1 clove garlic
1 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 8oz. can tomato sauce
3 1/2 C water
1 T. Chili Power
1 t. Italian Seasoning
1/4 t. cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste
12 oz pasta (I use whatever I have in the pantry)
2 16 oz cans dark Red Kidney Beans, undrained
cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese, shredded
sour cream

1. Cook ground beef, diced onion & garlic in a large stockpot. Drain grease if needed.

2. Add petite diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and all seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.

3. Add dry pasta and the kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the pasta noodles.

Top with shredded cheese and sour cream.

I like to serve this with salad and buttered bread.

Dad's Hot Salsa

My Dad has been making salsa for years. He's always coming up with a new recipe. They are always so good. When I went home for my sister's wedding last year this was his latest salsa recipe. I seem to live in the land of bland when it comes to restaurants, this salsa is the bee's knees in comparison to any restaurant in town.

Dad’s Salsa


7 cans Rotel tomatoes, slightly drained
1 C. chopped cilantro or to taste
1 jalapeno pepper-minced
1 habanero pepper-minced
1/2 lemon
1/2 lime

Open the Rotel and keep the lids on the can to drain. Drain until the juice is just dripping. There will be some juice left in the tomatoes.

Pour 4 cans Rotel into a large bowl.
Pour 3 cans Rotel into a blender. Blend for about 20 to 30 seconds. Pour over tomatoes in the bowl.
Squeeze juice from the lemon and lime into the bowl over tomatoes.
Add cilantro, peppers to the bowl and mix well.

Chill overnight so the flavors will blend.


When I can find a serrano pepper, I add it in addition to the other peppers.

Enjoy.

Banana Nut Muffins

I had a few bananas that were perfect for baking. These muffins are so good, not too sweet. The only problems is, the recipe only makes 12. ; )

Banana Nut Muffins

2 large bananas
3/4 C. sugar
1 egg or 1/4 C. egg beaters
1/2 C.  melted butter
1 1/2 C. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
3/4 C. chopped nuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mash bananas in a bowl. Add egg, sugar & melted butter. Mix well.
In another bowl mix flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt. Mix into banana mixture until just combined. Don't over mix.
Add nuts.
Scoop into pans. They will fill almost to the top.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins.

Sure signs of Autumn

It's my favorite time of the year.

It's officially September and signs of Fall are starting to show. There's Apple Cider and Caramel Apples in the grocery store. I saw the first tiny bit of Fall foliage on one little tree at the gas station.

Time to get out the Fall decorations. Bake something that fills the house with the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon. Cook some soups and stews. Go to the Mill and buy some fresh apples, cider & donuts.

I can't wait to go on a long drive to see the gorgeous colors on the trees.

I Heart The Duggars & Homemade Laundry Soap

Did you know the new season of 19 Kids and Counting starts tonight? I'll be watching, will you?

I just refilled my laundry soap dispenser and thought I would share this recipe with you. Several years ago I use to make laundry soap. I lost the recipe when we moved. With the high price for HE soap & a call from my sister, I thought I would start making it again and save a penny or two along the way.

I had to find a new recipe. In my search, The Duggars recipe site came up with several recipes including a laundry soap recipe.  I've been using this recipe for the last 6 to 8 months. It works very well. I have no problems at all, not even with the white load.

This recipe makes 5 gallons concentrated  laundry gel & 10 gallons soap in total. I bought a 5 gallon bucket and lid from Home Depot to store the gel in. When I'm ready to refill my dispenser, I stir/whisk the gel with a long dowel rod or spoon to turn it back to a liquid. I fill a recycled laundry soap dispenser about 1/3 full with the liquid gel, then fill with water to the top on a very slow drip or you get lots of bubbles.  I like to use 1/3 soap to 2/3 water instead of the half & half the recipe calls for.

Here's a picture of the concentrated gel. Looks like pudding.

Onto the recipe.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

4 Cups hot tap water

1 bar Fels-Naptha Soap

1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 Cup Borax

 Grate bar of soap and add to 4 cups hot water to dissolve.

 Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and the Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to the top with hot tap water. Stir, cover with lid and let sit over night to thicken.

Stir and fill your clean laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill to the top with water. (use a slow stream of water or you will get tons of bubbles).

Shake before each use.

Don't replace the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda with another item. The laundry soap needs the sodium carbonate to work.

You can add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled.

Duggar ideas: lavender, rosemary or tea tree oil.

The soap has a slight citrus scent. I didn't add any oil to mine, my sister found a nice oil that had an orange scent to add to her laundry soap. Her family loved it.

Here's a link to The Duggar recipes. Be sure to check them out. There's also a dry laundry soap recipe along with a few of their favorite recipes.

http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Comfort Food Sunday

Lucky me, I found a way to upload my pictures until I get the new photo software. ; )

I have been looking through my handwritten recipe book. I found this recipe in there twice. From my MIL and a family friend Sue. Must have been a popular recipe back in the 60's or 70's.

I decided to change it just a bit. One ingredient to be exact. I used chicken broth in place of 1 stick melted butter.

While eating dinner, I thought small pieces of carrot would be really good in the rice. Might try that next time.

Chicken & Rice Casserole

1 1/2 C uncooked rice
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 C water
1 14 oz can chicken broth (original recipes calls for 1 stick melted butter)
6 to 8 chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pam a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Mix rice, soups & water together. Salt and pepper to taste.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Place chicken on top of rice. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour can of broth over chicken and rice.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours longer.

Trying it again...

I tried blogging a few years ago. Then again about a year and a half ago. I'm ready to give it another go. ; )

I'll share recipes, crafts, pictures and whatever else comes to mind.  I hope my ramblings will bring a smile or laugh to your day.