Chili Recipe

Luke and I made chili the other day and it turned out wonderful. We kind of went off another recipe that we found for some of the main things, but did a lot on our own.

1 lb - Ground Beef
1 - 16oz can Bush Chili Beans (mild)
1 - 15 oz can Tomato Sauce
1 - 10oz can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
1 - 14.5oz can Huntz Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 - 16oz can Bush Kidney Beans
1 - Chopped Green Bell Pepper
1 - Medium Sized Chopped Jalapeno Pepper
1/2 - Chopped White Onion
2 Tsp - Garlic
2 Tbsp - Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp - Cumin
2 Tsp - Oregano
1 1/2 Tbsp - Chili Powder
1/2 Tbsp - Cayenne Pepper
Salt
Black Pepper

In a frying pan, brown the beef. I added a few shakes of black pepper and salt, then added in the tomato sauce and set to the side.

In a separate frying pan, saute the onions, garlic, brown sugar, cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne pepper, chopped jalapeno pepper (de-seed), chopped green bell pepper until the onions become translucent.

In a slow cooking crockpost, combine the contents of both pans along with the remainder of ingredients (Bush Chili Beans, Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, Bush Kidney Beans) . Slow cook for 8 hours.

We did our overnight and let it cool off in the morning. Then when I got home from work, we heated it in the crockpot again for dinner. It does have a bit of spice to it, but it's not too hot. If you want it hotter, use either Hot or Medium Bush Chili Beans instead of mild. If you want it cooler, leave out the jalapeno.

All in all, we were very impressed and wrote down the ingredients right away... so we can make it again!

A Gift to Always Be Thankful For

Well, yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of my father having a heart transplant. I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I am so indifferent with my emotions when this day comes. I am so very, very grateful of this gift of having a second chance at life for my dad. But, I am so deeply saddened for the other family's loss. I only hope they know how much this has given us, and how much we grieve for them as well. 

Here's to my dad, one of the most influential men in my life and those who lost a loved one and was so selfless to help others. I am so thankful you are happy and healthy again.

Painting My Sister's Room

Well, my sister has been an ambitious little thing lately. She started packing up the kitchen stuff and peeling the wall paper to repaint. Then she decided she was tired of her room and needed a change. I went down and visited for a day and I helped her to get started on a design. This is what she decided she wanted: a gecko.

 

This is the finished product 

And here are the in progress photos:

 Before

Here is Amanda drawing the circles on the gecko. I found that using chalk on the wall is wonderful! It erases so easily with just your hand! No pencil marks!

 Amanda drawing more circles, see the ladder? So helpful when you are vertically challenged. :)

One coat on two more to go before I get to paint in the circles!

 

I wanted to continue with the circles on the wall like on the gecko, so Amanda found a ton of different sizes of circles to trace with the chalk. 

 Amanda painted the circles while I painted the gecko. 

I helped paint some of these circles. Amanda started getting frustrated. But, man... circles are hard to paint and make it look good! Amanda did a great job!

 What it looks like now, I think she's still going to work on smoothing out some of the edges.

A little snipit of both!

I just have to say, that I had a wonderful day spending some quality time with my sister. I'm so glad I took the day to go visit. :)