Taco and Chili Seasoning

I don't know about you but tacos and chili are staples in our house, especially in the winter! I think it's a combination of the cold weather and football that makes it a frequent request by the hubby! I found myself constantly buying the McCormick Seasonings every week for almost a dollar each! I decided it would be easier and more efficient to make a big batch of each of my own taco and chili seasonings to keep on hand. I bought two small Rubbermaid containers and made sure I had plenty of each spice. Tonight I made a completely organic batch of delicious chili....SCRATCH THAT...my HUSBAND had the chili made by the time I got home tonight!!! I think he was proud of himself! I was too! So ladies...just have all of the ingredients out on the counter and make sure he gets home before you do... and that he's too hungry to wait for you to get home!

Taco Seasoning (Big Batch)
16 Tbsp Chili powder
8 Tbsp Cumin
8 tsp Onion Powder
8 tsp Garlic Powder
4 tsp Oregano
8 tsp Paprika
8 tsp Seasoning Salt
8 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper

Chili Seasoning (Big Batch)
8 Tbsp Paprika
7 Tbsp Seasoning Salt
3 Tbsp Onion Powder
3 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2.5 - 3 Tbsp Cayenne Pepper (Depending on how much heat you like!)
3 Tbsp Pepper
4 tsp Dried Thyme
4 tsp Dried Oregano

Season to taste. In the chili tonight Bobby used 2.5 Tbsp....maybe next time we'll just use 2 Tbsp...depends on the kind of chili you make! Enjoy!

To a healthier 2012!

New years come with new resolutions and new goals! I think I have made resolutions to lose weight for the past 5 years...and have only been successful one of those years! While I still hope to drop a few this year my resolution is to simply eat better...

Not only do I want to eat more veggies and less sugar, I want to eat GOOD veggies (and I don't mean french fries!) I want to eat locally grown, organic, in season food. There's a BIG difference between a tomato from a local farm or your garden in the summer and one that you would buy from Krogers! In fact, many veggies, such as tomatoes, have been genetically altered to grow thicker skins for better long distance transportation, totally taking away from the wonderful, natural flavor of it!

I want to eat beef from a cow that is allowed to openly roam and eat GRASS and not CORN! Cows bodies were not meant to digest corn! I don't want to eat a chicken that is made to live it's whole life in a dark, overcrowded tunnel, unable to walk because it is too fat to physically support itself....But that's just me! I'll step off my soapbox now.

Now that you know my mission, I hope to post recipes that reflect that! Organic, in season produce and fresh, wholesome breads will soon be making their way into my kitchen. Not to say that I won't still make a yummy chocolate shake or potatoes in some form! I am still human! And Bobby would leave me! JUST KIDDING but he likes his treats just as much as me, maybe just not as often!

Bobby and I have joined a CSA Program (Community Supported Agriculture) at Madison Creek Farms in Goodlettsville, TN. There are local programs all over and I encourage you to check them out. This is how they work. Bobby and I have paid for the Spring/Early Summer Season in advance. Once it starts we will head over to the farm once a week to gather our 1/2 bushel of fresh, organic produce. With their program they also include frozen veggies and produce in your bushel as well as occasionally including fresh bread, fresh baked treats and farm fresh eggs. Each week we are also allowed to cut fresh flowers from their flower farm to take home, which is a HUGE BONUS for me. I'm really excited about being a part of this program and I am excited to share with you new recipes I try with some of the less familiar produce we will be receiving!

I hope that you still enjoy following the blog and maybe take a thing or two away from my new food endeavor!

Orange Cream Shake

I'll go ahead and say it...you're welcome!!! Today I made the most wonderful orange cream shake! It was simple and delicious and fresh and perfect on a hot summer day. All you need is...

2 cps vanilla ice cream

2 cps fresh orange juice

4 Tbsp sugar (I used Splenda)

I peeled 8 oranges. I find it best to use a sharp knife to peel it so that you get all of the bitter yellow skin off.

Then throw the oranges in your Ninja! And if you don't have a Ninja, you're just going to have to go get one!

Pulse until you have fresh orange juice!!

There's going to be a lot of pulp, and I don't like pulp much so I strained mine, it's up to you though...

Told ya there was a lot of pulp!

And there you go - fresh orange juice!

Now scoop out some of your vanilla ice cream and throw it into the blender with orange juice and sugar.

Wa-la! The best orange cream shake you'll ever have! SO GOOD! Told you it was simple! Now go make one!

Mother's Day 2010

This year for Mother's Day we had over Bobby's side of the family (Vicki, David, Lindsey, Billy and Nana) on Saturday night for Mother's Day. Then on Sunday we had over my mom and dad. We were able to enjoy the evenings outside on the porch and feasted on chicken spaghetti, homeade yeast rolls, garlic green beans and salad wedges with homeade honey mustard and ranch. And we drank about 3 gallons of fruit tea! On Saturday Lindsey brought over a FABULOUS grape salad and German coconut cake for dessert! Yum! Our moms are amazing and deserve so much more. Maybe one day we can upgrade to Mother's Day Vacations :) LG

Christmas 2009

Bobby and I had our first Christmas together as a married couple and decided to have Christmas dinner for our families at our house...what was I thinking?! JUST KIDDING It was great, I loved being able to have everyone over. It was nice and cozy! LG