67 = Chili

This past weekend came with amazing cool temperatures {we went from 94 degree high temp to a whopping 67 degree high temp over night} and seriously I was loving every single minute of it.  We rocked hoodies with jeans & flip flops {my boys love rockin that outfit}, open the windows and the A/C didn't run once for three days straight {finger crossed it help our electric bill out some}.  Our middle son {the big 5 yr old} had his first ever soccer game on Saturday & he was so excited.  Granted it was drizzling out which had our youngest freezing even though he was bundled up.  Wanted me to hold him the entire time to cuddle but I was attempting to capture the first soccer game which made me feel torn {note to self when having more then one child at times you will feel torn between them & trying to comfort one while doing something for another isn't always stress free simple}.   Halfway through my camera battery died go figure {always have a fully charged camera battery not one that is only 25% charged cause it will not last}.  My husband wasn't able to be there since he was in a class all day long otherwise the hold me while trying to capture the game would have been stressful with other hands there to do one or the other.   

I decided that we needed to make a trip to the grocery store cause it just felt like the perfect day to make chili & let it cook all afternoon long.  So once the game was over & we went home to change into dry clothes, the boys had a snack then we were off.  We got everything we needed to cook & to bake but first we stopped at the local bakery right next store {when we lived in VA there wasn't a local bakery around beside one you may find at a grocery store which I don't consider a "bakery" I was going to say real bakery but that sounds harsh I mean yes it a bakery but the ones we grew up with in NY were an actually store that was just that a 'bakery' nothing else}.  The older two had never been there before so when I opened the door their eyes lit up, like a kid in a candy store {another thing my boys have never been into}.  After five minutes of going back & forth on what they wanted we got 3 big circle cookies with sprinkles & I decided to get two apple turnovers for me & my husband to enjoy later once the kids were in bed {which were so amazing that I am now craving for another one}.  Once we got home I started cooking the chili {I make turkey chili & its amazing, it wasn't till about 2 years ago when a really good friend told me how she cooks with ground turkey never ground beef.  That you really can't tell the difference so I tried it & in the past two years I have bought ground beef maybe 5 times total we use ground turkey for everything} & decided to make Spice Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins {I'll post the recipe tomorrow} which only call for 4 ingredients.  


Turkey Chili:

1 lb of turkey {browned & drained}
1/2 a green pepper {cut up}
1/4 of a onion {cut up}
1/2 can of corn {drained}
1/2 light kidney beans {drained & washed}
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
chili powder {i just sprinkle till it taste the way we like it lol}

sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
tostitos chips {the scoops are perfect}

Brown the ground turkey & while that is cooking cut up the peppers and onions, drain & wash the kidney beans, drain the corn.   In a large pot add the peppers & onion cook on medium.  Once the ground turkey is fully cooked drain you can add that to the peppers & onions. Then add the kidney beans, corn, died tomatoes, sauce and stir it all up.  Add the chili powder {I don't measure I just shake till it's perfect}. Let it cook on low {stir here & there} till you are ready to eat {I like to let it cook for a few hours}.  When your ready to eat pour into a bowl top with cheddar cheese and sour cream {if you like} now the best part take tostitos scoops chips & scoop away {that is my boys favorite part of chili}. 
Now this is how I make chili & there are so many way to do it, things to add and not add.  I started making it 3ish years ago at first it scared me cause I'm not the best cook.  I like to say I'm a cook in training {many many years of training lol} so going out of my comfort zone to make something new freaks me out.  I used to make it with ground beef & when we made the switch 2 years ago to ground turkey it still tasted great.   But it's seriously one of the best things about fall time & it taste great as leftovers.

Baked Broccoli

I never thought to bake BROCCOLI before.  We have boiled it & my husband has been wanting to get a steamer so we can "cook it the right way" but while on pinterest I saw a recipe for baked broccoli & all the comments that followed said how amazing it was & it's the best tasting broccoli ever.  So I tried it out last week & it was A M A Z I N G.  Our two younger ones love broccoli to begin with so they kept eating it up.  I made it last night & gave it to all our boys, even my oldest {who is anti fruit/veggie kid} said it was really good & he liked the brown spots the best {the semi burnt spots} & he is so right cause those are the best parts.

So if you have never had baked broccoli it's a must try & so easy. 

• Broccoli
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt {I'm sure you can use regular salt but we recently became friends with kosher salt & it's what we use when we bake or grill veggies}

Set the oven to 350 & put the broccoli on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil {for easy clean up afterwards} then pour some Olive Oil {I don't measure I just pour to our liking} over the broccoli & mix it up so they are all coated then sprinkle the Kosher salt {or whatever salt} you are using & mix it up again.  Put in the oven for 20 mins and check, you want brownness on the broccoli then they are more crisp & that is wonderful.  I read others squeeze lemon juice over them once they come out of the oven but this simple way is what we love so maybe one day we'll try other variations.

{not the best picture off my ipod}

Philly Cheese Steak 1 2 3

If you are a lover of cheese steaks & you haven't tired making any yourself you need to.  Ever have a busy day & you get the kids fed dinner with something easy cause they are dying of hungry & can't wait any long for food otherwise a huge meltdown may take place.   Then think what am I going to make for us tonight.  Well you can pull this meal together in less then 20 minutes.  I used to make them all the time & get the frozen steaks at the commissary when my husband was in the Marine Corp but since then I haven't been able to find them & I don't like the steak ems or whatever it's called.  Well a few weeks ago while shopping at walmart one kid less Saturday morning I saw them just sitting there in the freezer section & fell in <3.   Later that week I tested it out & it was ever so wonderful.  

Philly Cheese Steaks :

• Frozen Cheese Steaks {I've used two steaks & four, with four you will have left overs.. trust me after one sandwhich you will most likely be full}
• Green Peppers cut up
• Onion cut up
• American Cheese {I have used just slices of american cheese or even Velveeta cheese or shredded cheese will work}
• Sub Rolls

Cut up the peppers & onions, Next I spray non stick cooking oil on the pan then put the peppers & onions in to cook {since they take longer then the steaks to cook I always cook them first}, before they are fully cook I move them to the side of the pan & add the philly steaks.  Cook I believe it's for 6 mins on each side {directions are on the box} then  mix up the steak all together with the peppers/onions.  When the steaks are fully cook I drain any juices cause I don't like the cheese to be really runny & add the cheese {whether it be american cheese slices or Velveeta cheese, shredded cheese} once all melted put on a philly roll or sub roll & enjoy. 

Simple Pasta Salad

One day I wanted pasta but not just with butter or sauce, so I put a little of what I had in my frig & it turned out great.  Now I make it for parties & when we have company cause it's so simple yet delicious.  You can basically add whatever you like but this is usually what I add.  I have noticed the longer you leave it in the frig the better it taste so if you want it in the afternoon make it that morning.

{Top picture doesn't have cucumbers & bottom picture doesn't have chicken}

Pasta Salad:

• Spiral pasta {cooked, even used tri color pasta}
• Black olives {I buy the sliced ones so I don't have to them up}
• Cucumbers {cut up}
• Cherry tomatoes {cut in half}
• Polly O Sting Cheese cut up {crazy I know but we had a pack in the frig & I really wanted mozzarella cheese in it}
• Chicken {diced up}
• Mixed with Italian dressing {or any dressing you care to use}