One of the Best Cool Weather Meals... TEXAS CHILI!

The hubby and I are fans of anything spicy! This recipe definitely isn't for the faint of heart. But if you like sour cream and lots of cheese in your chili like me... it is the perfect amount of spice :-) If you are not a fan of spice, omit the jalapenos.

Ingredients:

2lbs Ground Beef

28oz of Tomato Sauce

3 Cans of Red Beans

3 Medium Sized Jalapenos 

2 Medium Sized Green Peppers

1 Medium Onion

1 1/2 Table Spoons of Garlic Powder
1/2 Table Spoon of Chili Powder

1 Teaspoon of Lawyers Seasoning Salt

1 Teaspoon of Ground Pepper

1/2 Table Spoon of Paprika

1/2 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

Directions:

1. Chop onion and peppers. Mince the jalapenos.

2. Combine ground beef, onion, pepper and jalapenos in a large pot. Cook until ground beef is cooked thoroughly and brown through out. Drain meat and return to pan.

3. Add tomato paste to pot. Drain the liquid from the canned beans. Add beans to the pot and stir.

4. Add water to the pot until you have your desired consistency. (I don't like mine super thick)

5. Add one seasoning at a time, stirring in between each one.

6. Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Cover with a lid. Stir every 30 minutes or so. The longer you can cook it... the better! I would say don't cook it any less than one hour... but I typically cooking mine for 3 hours.

7. My hubby and I like ours with sour cream and cheese. Hubby likes crackers to dip in his... I like tortilla chips :-)

Comfort Food Alert! Homemade Tuna Casserole

Definitely one of the most famous "comfort foods" out there. No more tunahelper for you! This recipe is super easy and I guarantee the tastiest tuna casserole your taste buds have ever experienced. Don't like tuna? Substitute the tuna for chicken!

Ingredients:
9oz of Egg Noodles
1/2 cup of chopped yellow onion
1 cup of Monterrey Jack cheese
1 cup of frozen peas
2 6oz cans of tuna drained
1 can of condensed mushroom soup
1 can of condensed cream of cheddar soup
1 cup of crushed potato chips
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper

1. Boil the egg noodles in lightly salted water until noodles are cooked all the way through but still "stiff".
2. Mix noodles with both cans of soup in large bowl. Add tuna and onions. Add seasoning, peas, and then milk. Mix well.
3. Place mixture in a 9X13 baking dish. Top with crushed potatoes chips and shredded cheese. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Just in Time for Easter! Carrot Cake!

The chosen veggie for Easter?? CARROTS!! What better way to celebrate the Easter bunny's arrival than a delicious carrot cake? This truly is a winner!

Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon of salt
2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
3 Eggs
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
3/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil
1 Cup white sugar
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
1/4 Teaspoon of Almond Extract
1 Cup chopped pecans
2 Cups matchstick carrots (pre-shreded/cut carrots)
1 8ounce can of crushed pineapple

3 1/2 Cups of powdered sugar
8 oz of cream cheese (room temp)
1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract.
1/2 Cup of butter (one stick room temp)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 inch pans and then flour.

2. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

3.  Mix eggs, buttermilk, oil, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and almond extract in large bowl.

4. Add flour mixture to wet mixture. Mix well scrapping bowl often.

5. Mix carrots, pecans, and pineapple together in a medium bowl. Add into batter mixing until JUST combined. (Do not over beat)

6. Distribute batter into both pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean from center.

7. Allow to cool in pan on wire rack for 45 minutes. Empty cake on to wire rack and allow to completely cool.

8. Mix frosting ingredients.

9. Frost cake.

10. Decorate by adding chopped pecans to the side and possibly adding an icing carrot to the top! :-)

Good 'ol Fashion Oatmeal Cookie Pies!

I have to say... I am a sucker for the Little Debbie Oatmeal cookies with the cream filling! But after finding this recipe... I will never be buying those again. These cookies WELL SURPASS Little Debbie's version of them! Try them... you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:
2 Cups Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Margarine
2 Eggs
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
3 Tablespoons of Hot Water
1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
2 1/2 Cups of Flour
2 Cups of Quick Oats


1 Regular Sized Jar of Marshmallow Fluff
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/3 Cup of Powdered Sugar
3 Teaspoons of Hot Water


1. Combine brown sugar and margarine until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each one.
3. Add cinnamon, baking powder, water, baking soda and flour. Mix well. Add in Oats last.
4. Drop tablespoon fulls of batter on to greased cookie sheet. Try to keep the drops of mixture in a "somewhat" ball shape so they come out circular.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. You want them to be lightly brown on the bottom but still have a chewy texture.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on pan. Carefully remove from pan and allow to cool completely on cookie rack.
7. Mix filling ingredients. Add more powdered sugar if you would like the filling to be thicker.
8. Place filling in a large zip lock bag. Cut one corner of the zip lock bag... about 1/4 of an inch from the tip.
9. Squeeze filling from the zip lock bag on to the middle of the back side of a cookie. Place the back side of another cookie on top and gently push down until filling almost comes to the edge of the cookies.
10. Serve with a cold glass of milk :-)

I am BACK! And in FULL Swing: Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes

Hi yall! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. We welcomed our little boy Briar Austin November 30th and my world has been turned upside down ever since then... in a good way of course :-)

I made this recipe around the holidays and it turned out GREAT! What appealed to me about it was how EASY it was! Having a new baby in the house... easy was all I could handle at the time... and these were just what I was looking for! These make wonderful party desserts.

Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Melted Butter
2 20z Cans of Sliced Pineapple
1 18.25 Package of Pineapple Cake Mix
3 Eggs
1/3 Cup of Vegetable Oil
12 Maraschino Cherries

1. Combine brown sugar and butter. Mix well. Spoon into 2 large greased cupcake pans (there should be 12 spots in each pan).

2. Drain Pineapple and reserve juice. Place one ring of pineapple into each cup.

3. Combine cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and 1 cup of the reserved pineapple juice. Mix well.

4. Spoon cake mixture into each muffin cup... filling 2/3 of the way up.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean.

6. Immediately invert onto wire rack to cool

7. Place cherries in the middle of pineapple ring.

Enjoy!

The Easiest Apple Turnovers EVER!

My husband is a huge fan of anything apple and is especially a fan of his grandmother's apple turnovers. This recipe is super easy to make and pleased him just as much as his own grandmother's famous turnovers! I must say... even though I am not a fan of apple, these were delicious!

Ingredients:
4 Granny Smith Apples
2 Tablespoons of Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon of Corn Starch
1 package of frozen Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastries thawed.

1 Cup of Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Milk
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1. Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add apples and cook for 2 minutes stirring often.
4. Add sugar and cinnamon and cook for another 2 minutes stirring often.
5. Add corn starch and cook for another minute or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. Unroll your pastry sheets (there should be two) on to a floured surface. If there is any cracks, repair them by pressing the edges back together with your fingers. Cut each sheet into 4 squares (so you will have 8 squares total).
7. Place a spoon full of the apple mixture in each square and fold two adjacent edges together to form a triangle. If you placed too much mixture in the pastry for it to close, just remove some of the apple mixture. Press the triangle closed with your fingers lightly.
8. Spray two baking sheets with PAM. Place the triangle pastries on the baking sheets about 1 inch apart using a spatula.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees until the pastries have puffed up and are a light golden brown.
10. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes on pan. Remove from pan using a spatula and let cool on wire racks for another 20 minutes.
11. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together well until it forms a slightly runny icing texture. Use a spoon to drizzle the icing over the pasties. Serve immediately or let icing dry for about 20-30 minutes before storing.

Keep in mind this recipe DOES MAKE 8 PASTRIES... my husband just got to one before I could take a picture ;-)

Nothing Like a Hot Yummy Breakfast! Recipe- Sausage Biscuits and Gravy

There is nothing better than a hot cup of coffee on a Saturday or Sunday morning with homemade Sausage Gravy and Biscuits! This recipe has a kick to it! If you are not a fan of heat or spice... omit 1 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper and pepper flakes!

Makes enough for 4 people. Cut in half if you are only cooking for 2.

Ingredients
12 pillsbury frozen biscuits
1lb of ground sausage
2 1/2 table spoons of shortening
1/4 cup of flour
2 table spoons of flour
3 cups of milk
Pepper and Salt to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
2 teaspoons Red Crushed Pepper flakes

1. Cook biscuits according to directions.
2. While biscuits are cooking, cook sausage in a large skillet on the stove over medium to high heat.
3. When sausage is completely cooked, add shortening and allow it to melt. DO NOT DRAIN GREASE
4. Turn heat down to low and add flour.
 *I have 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of flour in my directions because it takes just a little bit more than 1/4 cup to thicken the gravy up.
5. Add pepper and salt, cayenne pepper, and red crushed pepper flakes. Stir well
6. Add Milk and turn up heat to medium. Bring to a boil for 5-10 minutes stirring often.
7. Cook on low to medium until gravy thickens. Add more pepper if desired.
8. Serve over warm biscuits.