Slow Cooker "Hunters" Chili

For several years I used to "wing it" with chili...including a few batches where Chris and I would politely eat the chili while sweating and taking down several glasses of milk. For the heck of it I decided to try this slow cooker chili recipe. BINGO!!!!! Ever since we have not strayed from the recipe.

Why do I call it "Hunters" chili? It's become a tradition for me to cook up this chili for Chris and the boys before they go off hunting. I always send it off with chopped onions, cheddar cheese, and Frito Scoops. I almost alwasy double the recipe for bigger crowds, or share, or freeze. It's yummy! Feel free to play with the kinds of beans. When I double I use one can of garbanzo beans and one can of black beans.

SLOW COOKER "HUNTER'S" CHILI (not doubled)
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound italian sausage
1 medium onion (1/2 cup)
1 can (28oz) Crushed Tomatoes (you can use diced or whole, but we don't like chunks so we use crushed)
1 can (15oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can (15oz) spicey chili beans (undrained)
1 can (15oz) garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

1. In skillet, cook beef, sausage and onion over medium-high heat, stir frequently until cooked through, drain.

2. In 3-4 quart slow cooker, mix beef mixture, remaining ingredients, break up tomatoes if using whole.

3. Cover; cook on low 7-8 hours. Top with whatever goodies you like.

YUMMY IN THE HUNTER'S TUMMY!

Samoa Kiss Brownies

Don't deny it...you look forward to Girl Scout Cookie season for the Samoa Cookies...or Caramel Delights as they are known in other parts of the US still. Some people fall over for those Thin Mints...but I'm all about Samoas...okay the Tagalongs too.

I came across this brownie recipe a few years back...made it for my leaders last year...they loved it...and made it again this year. Sharing is caring!

SAMOA KISS BROWNIES

1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1/3 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup melted butter
Mini cholocate chips (I use milk chocolate chips or the mini ones)
3/4 cup caramels melted (I wonder if you could use caramel ice cream topping)
1/2 package Samoa cookies (crushed)
Coconut 1 tbsp (toasted)

Mix cake mix, evaporated milk and butter. Pour half of the mixture into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Sprinkle 1 cup kisses on top. Spread melted caramel over kisses. Add 1/2 box Samoas and 1 tbsp toasted coconut. Pour remaining cake batter on top and bake 10 minutes. Drizzle with melted kisses and sprinkle with coconut.

I wasn't really able to "pour" the remaining batter on top...it was more clumpy, so I kinda smooshed it and put it on top.

YUM!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Prior to my weight loss surgery I was not a fan of green peppers...but now I seem to enjoy them cooked and even raw! GASP! So, in the almost 15 years Chris and I have been together I never made stuffed pepppers...til NOW! If my stomach would have allowed me to gobble the whole thing down...I totally would!!!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Salt
4 bell peppers (pick whatever color you like...I used green, 1/2 inch trimmed off the top, stemmed, and seeded
1 1/2 cup minute rice (the original reciped called for long grain rice, but I don't own any of that so I used minute rice)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped fine
1 pound ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced (I used my jar stuff again)
1 can tomato sauce
5 oz (1 1/4 cup) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon parsley (or 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley)
1/4 cup ketchup

Bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to boil in a large pot over high heat. Add the bell peppers and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove the peppers from the water, allowing excess water to drain back into the pot. Place the peppers, cut side up, on a paper towel lined plate.

Cook up your minute rice or your long grain rice, whichever you go with.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat until simmering. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beef and cook, breaking into small pieces, until no longer pink. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant. Drain if needed. Combine with tomato sauce, 4 oz of cheese, and parsley. Add rice until it looks like enough. I realize that sounds weird...just depends how saucey you want it. Season the rice mixture with salt and pepper.

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the peppers, cut side up, in a 9x9 baking dish. Divide the filling evenly among the peppers. Top with ketchup evenly over the top of peppers, sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup of cheese. Bake until the cheese is browned and the filling heated through, about 30 minutes.

YUMMINESS!!!!!

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

So...my hubby is pretty good about me trying new recipes and he will tell me if it is a keeper followed by how many times I could make it per year. The more times per year, the more he likes it. It's that or he'll say PASS...or "um baby, don't make this again". Well...he could not say enough how GOOD the following recipe was, which is rare for him to keep going on about how GOOD something is.

Thank you from my dear friend Susan for sharing it with us!

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

1 package (6oz) stuffing mix (I used a box of Stove Top Stuffing)
3/4 cup melted butter (or margarine)
3 cups diced zucchini (2 regular zucchini worked for me)
2 cups cooked cubed chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sour cream

Set aside 1/2 cup stuffing mix for topping. Pour the rest in a large bowl with melted butter. Add the zucchini, chicken, soup, carrot, onion and sour cream to the remaining stuffing mixture. Transfer to greased 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with reserved stuffing mix. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Here a recipe...there a recipe

Why do I stink at blogging? Seriously...it's March 2nd...haven't been on here since September 1st. I love the idea of it. I just can't seem to keep up!

Anyhoo...adding some recipes I've been asked to share!

WHITE LASAGNA
Non Stick Cooking Spray
1 pound ground turkey or chicken (Susan suggests using mild italian turkey sausage)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced (I'm lazy and use the jarred stuff)
1 1/4 cups cottage cheese
1 10oz package frozen chopped spinach, well drained, squeezed (I used broccoli because my hubby is not a spinach fan)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup flour
1 can (14.5oz) chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk divided
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 box no-boil lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Heat oven to 350. Coat 13x9 inch baking pan with no stick cooking spray.

2. Spray a large skillet with no stick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add meat (whatever you pick), onion, and garlic. Saute about 10 minutes, stirring and crumbling until onion is clear and meat is done. Remove from heat. Stir in cottage cheese and veggie of choice. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

3. Heat oil in medium saucepan. Stir in flour. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Slowly pour in chicken broth and 1 cup milk. Bring to a boil, whisk constantly. Whisk until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in nutmeg, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Add up to 1/2 cup milk as needed to thin sauce.

4. Place 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of prepared pan. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles. Pour 1/4 of the remaining sauce over noodles. Top with 1/4 of the mozzarella and 1/3 of the meat mixture. Top with another layer of noodles. Pour another 1/4 of the sauce. 1/4 of the cheese and 1/3 of the meat mixture. Top with another layer of noodles. Pour on another 1/4 of the sauce. 1/4 of the cheese and remaining 1/3 of the meat mixture. Top with lasagna noodles, remaining sauce and cheese. Cover with foil.

5. Bake 35 minutes. Remove foil and back 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing.

And there it is! This recipe came to me from my dear friend Susan while she was living in Alaska...now in Texas!

I was making this while my 3 year old was talking my ear off...so I missed a few steps...like mixing the cottage cheese and veggie with the meat. I ended up mixing it into the sauce instead. Ooops...but it all ended up together anyways right.

My hubby Chris liked it...but he thought it lacked in flavor...which could have been my choice of using ground turkey. Next time I will try mild italian turkey sausage as Susan uses.

This was my first time using no bake lasagna noodles...I think I like them!

Time Escapes

Ever feel like time is escaping. Wowzer this summer went by fast! However...I must admit I am looking forward to school starting again.

I'm happy for September 1st. It's a new month. The last 1/4 of the year. Not to mention it's the beginning of the "busy season"...AKA the school year. I'm looking at our busy calendar for September thinking "here we go kiddos."

Kylee is going to be starting 2nd grade at Chambers Prairie Elementary school this year. After many many many sleepless nights on my part trying to figure out private or public we decided not to send her back to St. Michael and stick with Chambers Prairie. In two years the cost for both kids per school year at St. Mikes would be near $8300. It just isn't feasible for us...not now and I doubt in 2 years. Now I just have to figure out how to keep Kylee in a bubble of "goodness". HA HA.

Kylee had a great teacher last year! Thank you Mrs. Myers! This year she is looking forward to a fabulous year with Mrs. Killogh for 2nd grade(sounds like pillow but with a K). Kylee reminded me of that several times yesterday when I kept saying it wrong. We met Mrs. Killough lastnight at open house and she seems awesome! Kylee found her desk and got all of her supplies settled for the first day! She is stoked about not switching schools and being able to wear "her style" as she says. I'm looking forward to helping in the classroom when I can and getting more involved with the PTA etc. I think a big part of what I missed from St. Mike's is the involvement of parents...so...I'm just going to force myself in and being involved. Looking forward to meeting new people!

Mr. Brody is going to start preschool at Horizons Elementary beginning September 13. He will go on Tues/Thur/Fri from 12:00-2:35pm. Do you hear me yelling "THANK YOU GOD" for some peace during those days. That little man can be a stubborn booger! That's right...I said booger. But I love him regardless. The school district only does special ed and integrated preschool where you have non special needs kids and special needs kids. Brody will be part of an intergrated class. I'm looking forward to see how my little man handles being away from mommy. Kylee had no issues at all, but the other day Brody hid behind me when we met his teacher and didn't say a word. In the car he told me I would stay at school with him. HA! Mommy is dropping his butt off and running for the silence! Woo hoo! =-)

As for our third child Zoey...she will be attending doggy school very very soon with mommy as soon as I can figure out a class schedule that will work with the rest of our schedules we have going on. As many times as I may have wanted to get rid of that dog...it is undeniable that we all love her no matter how many times we call her a stupid dog in one day. She is our pretty girl...ask Brody...he'll tell ya. Chris and Josh finally solved the fence problem this week and now Zoey can roam free in the backyard and is a much happier girl...and mama Amber is much happier now as well...even though Zoey still manages to find trouble.

Daddy Christopher is busy busy working over 40 hours at SS Landscaping working with the special projects division. In addition to that he is working almost 30 hours per week at Home Depot. On his days off I usually have him running around doing something or we need to be somewhere...so he has no spare time unless I schedule him some down time off of work.

Then me. Still working 40 hours from home for the same company. I was unsure if I was going back to school...but after I found out I was no longer on the waitlist for Biology 241 and in the class(which I had been wanting to get into for over a year) I decided I would return this quarter. I will be taking the BIO 241 on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00-9:20pm along with an online Statistics cours (God help me on that one). If I have any hopes of getting into nursing school I have to get a good grade in BIO 241. We shall see. And can you believe the books for BIO 241 are $300. Whoa mama...hopefully it's good for BIO 242 as well.

As the school year begins, as does my Girl Scout year. I will most likely be heading up a Brownie Girl Scout troop for Kylee. Need to get all my ducks in a row for that. Last year was my first year as the volunteer Service Unit Manager for the Central/Downtown Olympia troops and I will continue this year with my co-manager. What do we do? Basically we recruit, support and guide our team of volunteers (leaders) to deliver the Girl Scout experience in the area...something like that. I enjoyed it last year so I'm going to give it a whirl again.

We gave up our Seahawk tickets this year. BOOOOO! But we had to cut costs and we're saving for a trip to Jamaica in May to see my brother Mike and his fiance Katie get married! Yahoo!!! Our Sundays are not busy with that anymore...but I will still be glued to the TV screaming in Seahawk gear.

Kylee has a huge imagination. She wants to do hip hop dance, basketball, soccer, cheerleading, guitar, tennis, volleyball, swimming and just about anything she can possibly try. We are definately starting up swimming again and possilby volleyball at the YMCA. She did soccer a few times but it didn't seem to be her thing. I love volleyball so I'm all for it. HA HA! Besides...I got a tall kid...if we can groom her to love volleyball and basketball...sweet! Brody seems like he'd love to run and play some soccer, so maybe we'll give it a try for him along with some swimming lessons. I like to add more to the plate ya know.

This is also the year Brody will start Sunday School at St. Michael's and Kylee will begin year of preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. We have our first parent meeting for that on September 25 and then I believe she attends weekly classes until the big day in May.

Whew! Did you get all of that?

We certainly have enjoyed summer vacation. We've seen lots of places and great people. Love spending time with family from near and far across the country. God has blessed us with some awesome family and friends! Chris and I are truly thankful for each and everyone of you.

Fun Weekend!

We had a blast this last weekend and splurged on ourselves for some "couple" time. On Friday night we saw Transformers in 3D...it was amazing. It was not overcrowded since the hoards of people were at Harry Potter. I just wish someone could have taken care of their B.O. before entering the theater. No joke, we weren't even sitting close to people but everytime a breeze went by...someone was ooober stinky.

Chris's mom watched the kids for us...and since we were headed to Seattle the next morning we decided to spend the night in Tacoma in their new trailer with the kids. It was kind of a campout in Nanny's backyard. It rained all night...what's up with that Washington weather?

Saturday morning we dropped the kids with my mom and Bob. They had a busy day walking on the beach, going to the seaside museum, playing at the park, going to the pool when the sun came out briefly, and hanging out. We headed to Seattle for our first ever Seattle Sounders game.

The nice Qwest Field man (Century Link...whatever) offered to take our picture.

Totally cheesing with our poser scarves.

My hotty hubby

Found myself a $10 tee on the women's sales rack at the pro shop. This is a new found fun thing for me to be able to do.

We had a good time at the game and will probably make it an annual date event. The Sounders won 4 to 2...so that was great. I just need to learn soccer rules and it will be all good. HA!

After the game we headed the wrong direction (that was my fault)and ended up sitting in needless traffic down town. Good thing my hubby loves me even though his clutch started to get a little hot.

Eventually we made our way around and found a parking garage that didn't charge an arm and a leg to park. We had dinner at Benihana's where we enjoyed Hibachi Chicken and Shrimp for two. I think Chris was drooling over the mustard sauce he loves so much. We haven't been to Benihana's in forever...so we definately enjoyed it.

We picked up the kiddos and headed home. I decided date weekend was continuing so we cuddled up on the couch and watched "The Fighter". It is refreshing to see that after almost 14 years together we still have fun together and love each other more and more. Thank you Christopher for a fun weekend! I love you! (yes I am mushy)

Seriously

Seriously...I love the idea of blogging...I am just really bad at keeping up with it. I said it once, twice, probably 3 times, let's try this again!

Ya, and I tried to have a separate food blog. Nix on that idea. For now on I'll have this lovely blog and share recipes on here as well. One stop shopping for family and food info!

So on with the sharing!

Strawberry Shortcake

1 large angel food cake

For Custard:
8oz cream cheese (softened)
14oz sweetened condensed milk
12oz Cool Whip

For Glaze:
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp strawberry gelatin powder
1 cup water
2 cups strawberries (sliced)

Cut cake horizontally in 3 equal layers

For Custard: Mix together cream cheese, condensed milk and Cool Whip. Set aside.

For Glaze: In a medium sauce pan stir together sugar, conrstarch, gelatin powder; add water. Cook over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Fold in strawberries.

Assembly: Cake, glaze, custard, cake, glaze, custard, cake, glaze, custard. Top with 3 fresh strawberries.