My Crockpot Chicken Chili and My Other Crockpot Chicken Chili

I love chili, especially my Triple Secret Chili that simmers away on the stove for hours and fills the whole house with the aroma of... well, that's a secret.

This Crockpot Chili, on the other hand, is a busy mommy's (or granny's) best friend.  Dump a few simple ingredients into the crockpot in the morning, and dinner practically makes itself.  It's hearty, creamy, tangy and a wee bit spicy.  Best of all, it's easy.  But that's not all (as they say in the infomercials...)

Wrinkly Apple Upside Down Cake

I hate letting food go to waste, but sometimes, especially when you buy in bulk, things can start to look a little unappetizing before you've had a chance to finish them.  And then just try getting the family to eat them!  So, for items I buy in large quantities, especially fruits and vegetables, I like to be ready -- once things begin to look a little wizened -- with a good use-up strategy.

My family eats a lot of apples, and I buy them by the dozen.  About the time they start to go a little soft and wrinkly, I know just what to do:  I make a Wrinkly Apple Upside Down Cake.  (And if the main thing wrinkling up right now is your nose, please observe that I did not say Rotten Apple Upside Down Cake!  Who would want that?)

3 Things I'm Pretty Sure I'm Sure About Money

Dave Ramsey has the right idea.  In his book, Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money, he repeatedly says that one lesson he had to learn the hard way was not to "take financial advice from broke people."  So, who can you go to for financial advice?  Dave says his life turned around when he went "on a quest to find out everything [he] could about God's and Grandma's ways of handling money."  Bravo, Dave.  You are a wise dude, indeed.

So, what exactly are my qualifications for claiming that I know something about money?  Fair enough.  Here are some of my credentials:

• I am a granny, obviously.  And thanks, Dave.  But more to the point...
• I am not a broke person.  But, much like Dave Ramsey, I once WAS a broke person, and I learned a lot of valuable financial lessons the hard way in order to transform myself into a FORMERLY broke person.
• I'll add a third:  I'm not after YOUR money, as so many "professional financial advisers" are.

Notice I did NOT say that I am a financial expert, even though I have a college degree in a financial field and spent decades working as an accounting professional.  I've learned enough to know that I'm still learning how to handle money and expect I always will be.  But there are quite a few things I've figured out for myself, and I'm happy to share what I've learned with you.  For free.  And you can pay attention to what I have to say, or don't.  Your money, your choice.

How about if we start with some good news?

Another Reason to Love Breakfast: The Muffin McEgg

I love breakfast food.  I love eggs, especially, and I could (and often do) eat them every day of the week.  My love for eggs started my freshman year in college.  I used to schedule my classes as early in the morning as possible so I could get them over with and have all afternoon to study (or walk into town for some shopping.)  That meant I was usually able to make it to the cafeteria in time for breakfast, which always featured piles of perfectly-cooked eggs over easy.  They were so pretty and appetizing, I was never tempted by the sugary pastries.

Between eating sensible meals in the school cafeteria and walking to and from my classes, instead of gaining "the freshman 15," I actually lost a few pounds that year.  Here is a candid shot of me circa 1981, snapped by a photography student who was trying to capture, not just my image, but my phone number:

Did I give it to him?  I'll never tell.  (And stop laughing at my hairstyle.)

But anyway, that's when my love of breakfast began, and to this day I never skip it.  I also never eat anything sugary or carb-y first thing in the morning.  Usually it's just eggs over easy (still my favorite) with a slice of buttered, gluten-free toast or a veggie-stuffed omelet.  Once in a while, though, I whip up a special treat my svelte and beautiful (and breakfast-loving) daughter turned me onto:  We call it a Muffin McEgg.

Salmon Rösti

So, not long ago I was approached by a scout from a major food network, looking for undiscovered culinary talent.  I was asked to show my mettle by presenting an appealing recipe that makes use of only common ingredients found in the average household pantry...

I am sooooo lying!  What really happened was, I forgot to plan dinner (again,) and I was scrambling around at 5:00 trying to find anything whatsoever to cook.  Not so much as a thawed hamburger in the fridge.  Pasta?  No, we don't eat that any more.  Omelets?  We had that for breakfast.  Chinese takeout was starting to look like a dangerously good option, when suddenly I stumbled across a couple cans of wild Alaskan salmon.

Dinner is saved!

Bourbon Balls

Bourbon.  It's so much more than just another distilled spirit.

12 Days of Christmas

It's December, and the countdown to Christmas has begun!  (Hooray!)  

Head over to Crafty Allie every day to see what 12 crafty bloggers are sharing for Christmas.  

You might even run into someone you know there... (hint hint!)

It's time to get our Christmas on!

Scotch Eggs

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I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to think about on the morning of a big holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas is what I'm going to make everyone for breakfast.  In fact, when I'm elbows-deep in giblets and potato peels, I'd prefer that the rest of my household just fend for themselves.  How do they feel about that?  Excited, actually, when they find out one of their favorite treats is waiting in the fridge...

My Granny's Chair

No matter where I live, how old I get, how rich or poor, sick or healthy, no matter how happy or tragic the events of my life may be, at the core of my being I know this:  I have been loved.  Deeply and unconditionally loved by two people in my life, and those people were my grannies.

Candy Fixes Everything

Marriage can be tricky in the best of circumstances.  Two people from different families, possibly even different countries, regions, genders, races, socio-economic status and political leanings start living under the same roof and attempt to merge their individual existences into a shared life.

For example, my husband and I couldn't be more different.  One of us is rather liberal, and the other leans towards the conservative.  One of us is the child of a successful business owner, and the other is the child of a tough-guy union ironworker.  One of us is a Star Trek-loving super nerd, and the other has developed a keen interest in biker tattoos.  One of us is a cat lover, and the other has never lived without a dog.  One of us rolls the toilet paper over... well, you get the idea.  But love conquers all, right?  Well.....

One of us graduated from the University of Michigan, and the other attended THE Ohio State University.  Whaaaaat?  A Buckeye.  Married to a Wolverine.  How do we resolve that?

Well, recently my husband took me on a lovely weekend trip to Ann Arbor to help me to better appreciate his alma mater, so different from where I went to school.  I thought the university was really lovely.  We had a very nice time there.

And then for my counterpoint, I made him these:

The Look of Vintage Christmas with Chalk Paint

An easy and inexpensive Christmas craft project even kids can help with

Are You Giving Your Children Enough?

We love our children, and we give them so much.  It is only natural to want our kids to have everything they need, everything that will help them grow to be good people, and even some things simply to make them happy.  But do we really give them enough?

Handmade Silvered Glass Ornaments

Behold a beautiful glass ornament with delicate, marbled threads of silver.  Is it a precious and costly adornment that can be found only in the finest stores?  Or...

Potato Smashers

Tired of the same old baked, boiled and mashed potatoes?  Why not try some smashed potatoes?  Grab 6 or 8 medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes and give this a try.

Triple Secret Chili

There is a secret to making chili this good.  Actually, there are three of them.

Chicken So Good So Easy

How good is this chicken?  Slap it on your grill, and just the aroma will make every dog in the neighborhood start to howl.  And some of their owners, too.

How easy is this chicken?  Let me show you.

Dare to DIY - The Look of Mercury Glass

My big DIY project of the past several weeks has been remodeling my embarrassingly out-of-date guest bathroom.  From the brass-accented fixtures to the honey oak cabinetry to the stained glass pendant lights that look like they belong hanging over a booth at Applebees...

Yowza.

I've put a lot of work into giving this room a bright, clean, contemporary look, but on that you'll have to take my word for the time being and look for the Big Reveal in a future post.

Today let's talk about small things...

This is No Ordinary Butternut Squash Soup

Not long ago I discovered a really great chicken recipe that I highly recommend you try.  The chicken is coated in a sauce made of mustard and maple syrup and then baked.  Even if you don't like mustard, you should try this because the cooking process transforms the sharp, yellow mustard sauce into something mellow and tangy and just a little bit sweet.

So, why am I talking about chicken?  What's that got to do with butternut squash soup?  You'll see.

PORK (get in my) BELLY!

For months I have been wanting to try pork belly.  Seems like it's all the talk on the Food Network, but every store I went to had the same claim, "Oh, yeah.  Pork belly.  We get that sometimes, but we don't have any now."  I almost gave up.

But then COSTCO!

Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic

Boy, do I love Costco!  One of my favorite things to buy there is the Seeds of Change organic quinoa and brown rice that comes in a microwavable pouch.  Healthy, delicious and ready in 90 seconds!

Lately I've given up processed foods, especially prepared side dishes that come in a box or a pouch.  (I explain why in this post.)  But this is a rare exception.

Check the label -- every ingredient is actual, recognizable food, except for a bit of soy emulsifier.  And though I try to avoid soy, I'm not going to flip out about the small amount in a product I enjoy in moderation.  Especially when it comes with quinoa and brown rice and garlic and onion and parsley.... yum!

(I am not in any way affiliated with this brand.  Nor was I compensated for this review.  I just think this stuff is good!)