Chili Review

Well I definitely used too much hot sauce, at least for my taste. The hubby liked it!

Other than the fact of my mouth being on fire, it was really good!

I added shredded cheddar and saltines and it made a great meal!

Next time I will do it on the stove, but I just ❤️ using my Crock-Pot!

DIY Shotgun Shell Ornaments

One of my latest DIY creations have been shotgun shell ornaments. After making the string of lights and having a few shells leftover I wasn't sure what to do with them and couldn't let them go to waste!

So here's what you need:

A few of these 

Some of this and a brush

Glitter is a must!

Hot glue gun

Some yarn or twine for hanging the ornament

Now here's what you do:

Coat one shell at a time with your Mod Podge and then cover it with glitter

Shake off the excess glitter and repeat with however many you plan to make. I also put my excess glitter back in the shaker as to not waste any!

The next day you will want to coat each shell again in Mod Podge, over the glitter, and again allow to set overnight. 

Now when they're all dry and ready to be put on the tree you will want to heat up your glue gun first and foremost. Squeeze a dot on one side of the shell and press one end of your yarn or string onto it. Place the other end on the other side, try to get it perfectly adjacent, and squeeze a dot of glue over it. The glue will dry very quick so you will be able to place them on your tree immediately! All that hard work and waiting time has finally paid off! 

I put some up on my tree and I'm going to place a few on my Christmas gifts.

Crock-Pot Turkey Chili with leftover turkey

Today I am making turkey chili with leftover turkey that I froze from our Thanksgiving turkey, in my crock-pot!

Here's what you'll need:

Plus one more can of chili beans!

Shred and cut up your turkey to however you would like to have it in your chili. 

I used a secret hot sauce in mine but just a few drops because it is HOT!! But the sauce stays a secret, it's one probably only people in Houston know! 

Just throw everything in the crockpot and let it sit on low all day! I started mine around 10:45 this morning and will be serving around 6.

Review to come later

My Scrumptious Stuffed Mushrooms

Last night with my amazing spaghetti I served some delicious stuffed mushrooms! This is the second time I've done them and I will continue to regularly make them!

What you'll need:

1 pkg. white mushrooms

4 oz. Cream cheese, softened

8 slices bacon OR 1/2 lb. ground sausage OR both

Garlic Powder

Salt

Pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees farenheit. 

Gently rinse off each mushroom and then remove the stems and set them aside. 

Fry your bacon and/or ground sausage. In a small bowl microwave your cream cheese to soften, about 45 seconds - 1 minute. Once your bacon is done frying, crumble it all up and add to the cream cheese. If using sausage, drain the grease, then add to cream cheese. Combine completely. 

Dice up 8-10 of the mushroom stems you set aside and add them to the filling. Mix that all up and start filling up your mushrooms. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes

Banana Nut Bread Muffins

Another creation from my perfect kitchen creation day!

You will need:

1 stick salted butter

1 C. Sugar

2 eggs

3 very ripe bananas

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 C. All-Puropose flour

1/2 C. Milk

1 C. Chopped candied pecans (see recipe in blog)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Begin by creaming together butter and sugar. When finished, it should have a creamy texture. Add the eggs and mix until well incorporated. 

Peel the bananas and place in a bowl. Smash with a fork until smooth. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the salt, baking soda, baking powder and flour.

Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix well. Add half the milk, and again mix together. Add another 1/3 of flour mixture and combine. Add remaining milk, combine. Add remaining flour mixture and mix completely. Fold in candied pecans.

Fill each muffin tin about 2/3 full. Bake for 12-15 minutes depending on how good your oven is. I did 15 minutes and they turned out great. It made about 20 muffins.

There's obviously some missing 😉

When my husband first bit into one he asked what kind of coatin or glaze I used on the outside, and I had no clue what he was talking about, but I guess it's just the way they baked, he loved them. And I've gotten other rave reviews.

I like to eat mine warm with a little butter melted on it, so good!

Enjoy!

Original recipe which I tweaked to make my own http://completerecipes.com/Classic-Banana-Bread.html

Sweet Candied Pecans

Yesterday I was definitely in my game in the kitchen. Maybe besides getting all the dishes done but who likes to do dishes when you have no dishwasher??

First off I made these amazing candied pecans. The inspiration for these coming from when my Aunt and I would candy almonds, this is just a different nut and slightly if different recipe. I decided I would put them in my banana bread muffins I made, recipe to come next!

So here's what I started with:

And don't forget, 4 cups of pecans!

You'll need:

1/2 C. White sugar

1/2 C. Brown sugar, packed

1 Tbs. Ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 egg white, whisked

4 cups pecans, unsalted

First off make sure your oven is preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In a medium bowl, stir together the sugars, salt and cinnamon until evenly combined

In a separate bowl, preferably with a lid, combine the pecans and egg white, shake until pecans are coated

Spread this mixture out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, then take them out an stir 'em up, and put them back in for another 20 minutes.

The sweet aroma will fill your home! I like to eat these by themselves or put them in whatever cookie or bread I'm making

Review of Balsamic Vinaigrette Pork Chops

I have to brag on myself a little....ok A LOT! 

My pork chops turned out amazing. I grilled two for myself and drizzled some of the marinade over the chops on the grill, like so

I made some yummy fried potatoes to go with it, and green beans, gotta eat your veggies!

I strongly recommend you stealing thi recipe because it's delicious, so flavorful. I really like the tangy vinegar taste, along with the spices I used, it's all good magic 😇

The final product, after a bite....or two!