Vanilla Quick Bread

There is a strategic reason I'm posting this bread today. I'm posting it today because it is, officially, the perfect vehicle for my Blackberry-Nectarine Preserves. The two go hand-in-hand like chips and dip, or bacon and eggs. Although, I must confess, this bread is a great companion for pretty much any fruit spread. I slathered some Raspberry Jam on it, and my taste buds were equally pleased. Perfect for breakfast to serve alongside coffee, or a light dessert if you want to add some pudding and whip cream to the mix. Yummmmmm....

Recipe Redux: Pasta Salad with Tuna, Olives, and Parsley

We are going back to the beginning.

As in, really far back. This recipe takes us back to August 25, 2011. For those of you not in the know, I started my blog in May of 2011. I started it aimlessly, mostly just to have a place to occasionally write down ideas in my head and a good way to keep my parents updated on my shenanigans. This wasn't the first recipe I ever posted, but it's probably in the top 10 of my first foodie posts. Back then, I posted whatever was on my mind. It was mostly wrap-up's of family events, couponing trip summaries, and makeup reviews. I'd been cooking for maybe 2 years at the time and the words "food blog" had never entered my vocabulary. I didn't even know that food blogs existed.

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Oh, heyyyyy!

My, my, this week has gotten away from me. Isn't that how it always is during the holiday season? Between family time and the extra time required for running errands due to sheer mass of people out and about this time of year, I haven't found the time to blog. The hubby and I spent all weekend with family, while I spent no quality time with my camera. Or creativity, for that matter. Eh, it happens. I feel like I've been recovering from the weekend all week. This also happens occasionally :)

Let's talk chili. While my absolute favorite chili is my Dad's, this doesn't mean I shun all other chilies (chilis? chili's?). I like tomato-based chili, white chili, chicken chili, quinoa chili, turkey chili, etc. Well, go ahead and add Turkey Pumpkin Chili to the list. 

This is a really healthy chili, filled with vegetables and good-for-you fiber. The chili is thickened by 2 cups of pumpkin puree. I know a lot of Americans only think of pumpkin in terms of pie crust, condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg... you know, dessert-y.  But pumpkin is really a vegetable, and in the squash family. It has a very mild flavor that doesn't take over the chili so you'd never know your eating a bowl full of pumpkin, veggies, and beans. The hubby gave me an awfully strange look when I first told him I was making this, as he too shares the American mentality of pumpkin as dessert. He came around at first bite, though.

By the way, here's a great article on why you should eat more pumpkin :)

I can't believe it's December already! Seriously, I feel like I was just making Christmas cookies and now I'm about to make another round. The hubby and I hit up the craft store yesterday to pick up some Christmas items. As relatively new homeowners, our strategy has to been to take small steps each year in the decoration department. So, we went a picked up a few more Christmas decorations to add to our collection this year. I also picked up my cookie tins and treat bags that family and friends will be receiving soon.

The hubby and I realized another "first" this year. It's our first year of putting up Christmas lights! We were oh-so excited about this one as we realized, in 8 years together, we've never put up Christmas lights. Well, done and done. Not only did we put up lights, we put red bows on the porch and even bought a wreath. We are 100% in the Christmas spirit this year!

Don't worry, I'll post some pictures soon!

Now, go forth and make this chili. It's perfect for the cold, miserable weather we've all been having lately. Especially if you have to go out in said cold :)

Happy Wednesday!

Ingredients (serves 6):

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

1 onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

2 cups pumpkin puree

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup darker beer (I used an IPA)

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 (15.5 oz) can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, minced red onion, chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. In a stockpot, heat oil over medium heat. When warm, add ground turkey. Sauté, stirring to crumble, for 2-3 minutes, or until turkey is no longer pink. Add onion and red pepper. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Add garlic to the pot, and sauté for 30 seconds. 

2. Add tomatoes through pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, stir in beans, and lower heat to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Season to taste with more salt and pepper. 

3. Ladle into bowls, and serve with desired toppings. 

Printable Recipe

Recipe adapted from All You. 

If you enjoyed this recipe, you may enjoy these:

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

My Dad's Famous Chili

Creamy Chicken, White Bean, and Green Chile Soup

Linked to: Treasure Box Tuesday, Weekend Potluck, Foodie Friday, Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party

Breakfast For Dinner: Sausage, Potato, and Pepper Hash

Time for another breakfast for dinner!

Sausage was on sale this week, so I decided to make a couple of sausage dinners. I made Sausage, Pepper, and Mushroom Pizza, and this Sausage, Potato, and Pepper Hash. I've made this a couple of times previously, and this time I feel like I've finally got it down.

I roasted the potatoes previous to cooking, because I felt they didn't completely cook on the previous go-rounds. I also cooked the eggs a little bit longer, since the hubby commented they could cook a little bit longer last time.

Now that I've finally perfected this, it needs to be shared. It's sooooo good. I must also point out that it doesn't have to be cooked for dinner. It would be equally scrumptious for breakfast :)

You are going to need 1 large onion diced, 1 red bell pepper diced, 4-oz ground hot sausage, 3 large eggs, and some yummy, fragrant minced cilantro.

DON'T forget to coat your cookie sheet with cooking spray before roasting the potatoes, like I did.

DO pour yourself an ice-cold beer to forget your woes.

Crack your eggs into the pan, and cover.

The eggs will set up before your eyes, in 2-3 minutes.

Sprinkle the dish with some fresh cilantro once the eggs are set. Dig in, and enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, crushed
3 large baking potatoes, peeled and diced
salt and pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
4-oz hot sausage
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 large eggs
1/4 cup cilantro, minced

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Heat olive oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add crushed garlic cloves to hot oil, saute 1-2 minutes or until toasted. Remove from heat, and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon, and discard.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add diced potatoes and olive oil. Toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake in oven 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven, set aside.
4. In a large skilled, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions. Saute 5-7 minutes, or until tender. Add sausage and garlic, saute until sausage is browned. Add red pepper to pan. Saute 2-3 minutes. Add potatoes to pan.
5. Make 3 wells in the potato mixture. Crack eggs into the 3 wells. Cover pan, and cook 2-3 minutes, or until egg whites are set.
6. Uncover, and sprinkle dish with minced cilantro. Divide hash amount individual dishes, and sprinkle more cilantro on each dish. Serve immediately.

Adapted from All You

Thursday Randoms

I can't believe it's Thursday already! Where has the week gone? Here's what's on my mind today:

1. Couponing

Thursday Goal

I have gotten in the bad habit of not cleaning out my coupon binder and cutting up my inserts on Sundays anymore. This is how people get disorganized and I have never been a disorganized person. I also got my monthly 'All You' in the mail yesterday so one of my goals today is to clean the expired coupons out of my binder, cut up my inserts, cut the coupons out of 'All You', and mark the recipes I want to make in the magazine. I really need to get back in the habit of doing this on Sundays when I get the inserts.

Another goal I made at the beginning of the year was to go through all my food magazines and tear out the recipes I want to try. I want to get a gigantic binder and laminate sheets and organize all my recipes and then recycle all the magazines. This is daunting as I have hundreds of magazines around the house but I do want to get around to it at some point.

2. New Year's Goal Breakdown

Why do you have to tempt me?

I am not proud of this one but... on Monday, I had Taco Bell. Ugh. The hubby and I were running around, far from home. We left early in the day and I had brought some light snacks but of course, I was hungry later in the day. We were miles from home and hours from dinner and we had to go to his mom's to help her with some paperwork. We were starving so we stopped to get food and I gave in to temptation. I had a chicken burrito. I did fall off the wagon, but it could have been worse. I felt pretty guilty, but I did go 2 months without fast food. My new goal is to see if I can go 3 months without fast food. I am trying to let the guilt go, there is nothing I can do but move on. There is no point in beating myself up over it now.

3. Gizmo

"I'm Not That Innocent"

Don't be fooled by that adorable face. True to his name, he is another creature after midnight (not that we feed him or get him wet!) He is ferociously territorial in bed at night. I am a tosser and a turner and inevitably, one of my limbs will approach him in the middle of the night. At this point, I get a Gremlin-like growl/bark and bite on said limb. Where does this behavior come from? And every night? No matter how much I scold him, he still does this! Granted, he doesn't have enough jaw strength to hurt me but geez! I was having an especially hard time sleeping last night and the Gremlin came out a couple of times.

4. Cabin Fever

I think I see some sun!

For the last couple of weeks, the weather has been bad. Very, very cold with some snow here and there. And now for the last week, the weather has been very "Oregon". Cloudy and rainy. Today though, is actually fairly nice. At least right now! As you can see, it is not raining and there is some sun. I am definitely going to take advantage of this and take the dogs for a 20 minute walk because I think they are sick of being stuck inside as much as I am.

And finally, I am whipping up a nice, big batch of Pasta e Fagioli today. Pasta e Fagioli is an Italian bean soup that is very tasty. It uses dried beans so it takes a couple of hours to make. I usually have to start it early in the afternoon to have it ready by dinner time. It makes a ton so I have lots for the freezer. Checking my inventory of the freezer however, I think next week will be time to use some of my freezer meals. Less work for me, which means next week will be also be a good time for some deep cleaning around the house :)

A New Hobby? Yes, Please!

Over the past couple weeks, I have been researching the topic of couponing. I have become fascinated with the TLC show "Extreme Couponing" as I am sure countless others are. Now, I do NOT watch the show and think "Wow, I want to be like them." No, I will not be spending 60 hours a week scouring the Internet for deals, dumpster diving for coupons, or building a nuclear fallout shelter in my basement. Upon googling "extreme couponing" one of the very first websites I came across was all about "realistic couponing". Realistic couponing is more about using coupons on sale items to save 40-70% on your grocery bill. This sounded a lot more like me so I set out to go forth and save.

I wish I could say that I saved 70% my first trip. HA! I didn't do bad my first trip, saving about 27% at Kroger on groceries. My first trip was more about the learning experience and I have a lot to learn! Kroger has a savings card where you can go online and load digital coupons to your savings card to use in the store. The nice part is that all you have to do is swipe your card to use your coupons which eliminates/significantly decreases the need to carry a packet of coupons around. The downside is that you can't use digital coupons and manufacturer coupons together. Also, Kroger does not double their digital coupons but they will double the paper ones you bring into the store (under $0.50). 

One of the biggest couponing lessons I have learned (at least for me!) is to stick to my list! I have been making a list of what I am going buy and for what price and now have approximate totals on my lists. This week I was so close to my estimated total but still off $5. I know, I know, it's $5 but I have to admit I was disappointed when my total didn't add up. This lesson also came into play at CVS this week. CVS also has a savings card but with theirs you can scan your card as soon as you walk in the door and get free coupons! After getting my free coupons this week I saw I received one for $3 off a $10 makeup purchase. Of course I used this coupon and consequently added more money to my purchase since my makeup totaled slightly more than $10. Sigh. But, I'm learning!

As with all new hobbies, I am having fun figuring this out. I have since signed up for the Sunday paper, as well as a subscription to All You which is a popular magazine chock full of coupons. I have signed up for several email services for tips and popular deals for the week. I think Jerame is happy I have taken up a productive hobby as well as one that will help the house! As for me, it is time to head down to the post office to see if I got any new coupons in the mail... JOKING friends!