Chilly weather calls for a Chili Recipe!

Happy Fall, Y’all! I’m {finally} feeling better today, thanks for asking ;)

It’s October! When did that happen? I feel like I blinked and the year passed by! Please tell me I’m not alone in that fact that when it turns October every year, I do a little happy dance because the holidays are getting so close, and I LOVE the holidays.

If you live in the beautiful but weather – temperamental state of Arkansas like I do, you know that it’s still been a little warm for the picture perfect “fall” day {although I must say, September 21^st aka my wedding day was the ideal fall day- a crisp, cool morning with the high being right at 79..how perfect is that? Ok..so maybe I’m biased, I’ll always think 9/21/13 was the best day of my life.}

Even with the warmer than ideal temperatures, it’s still felt just like fall, and the fall weather is set to arrive on Saturday! The high is 66, people, and next week will be all sunny skies and 70’s {which means I get to bust out my new cheetah print sweater from my favorite store of all time, Suite One!}

Big weekend plans? Charles and I can’t wait to spend Saturday lounging around and enjoying the cool weather, watching Razorback football, and going to Paul’s meat marker to either pick out our favorite steaks {they are filled with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon…what’s not to love?} or trying out the new Paul’s meat marker Razorback burgers that everyone keeps raving about. Decisions, decisions…I also have to start writing all of our thank you cards for the wedding…it is a never. ending. process.

When I came home from work on Monday, I came home to a new toy from my husband!  A new iPad with a pink smart cover! Talk about the perfect way to cure a nasty case of the Monday blues. I was notorious for stealing his iPad {hey, when I do housework or get ready, I like to walk around with the iPad watching my shows on Netflix or Hulu Plus to help pass the time and make it more enjoyable…} so he thought it was time for me to have my own. Shout out to awesome husband’s everywhere, because my husband is TOO much! The newest show addiction of mine is Scandal. If you like the show Revenge then you will love it! I feel so drawn to this show because I feel as if it could actually happen. Plus, my TV Soulmates {hey, Angela and Katie!} both have expressed a liking for the show, so I knew I had to check it out. SO glad I did.

New iPad, can't get enough!

 

I know you all have been hearing about the ever so popular and controversial government shutdown {anyone who has a facebook has heard ALL about it, it seems, and everyone ON facebook is an expert on the topic…insert eye roll here.} I have to admit the timing is not ideal, but it doesn’t affect me too much, except that it shut down THE DAY I tried to get my social security card changed over to my new name. I got denied. So, according to the SS office, I am still Michele Marsh. I think I can deal. As long as Wal-Mart is open and the football teams are still playing, I’m a-ok!

When I was growing up, every Halloween my mom would make her first batch of chili for the season. We would never cook it until Halloween, and it was such a treat when we finally got to have a nice bowl of chili with fritos on top {can’t beat that, y’all!} Since it is now October, I thought I would go ahead and share my mom’s chili recipe with you, just in case y’all would like a delicious fall treat a little earlier!

Now, this recipe is double what you would normally make for just family, because I like to freeze my leftover chili and keep it on hand to heat up for a lazy, cold evening, or for a day when we are having hot dogs and I just want some chili on top! If you don’t like to freeze it or you’re just cooking for a handful of people, cut this recipe in half.

v  2 lbs. ground beef {or ground turkey}

v  1 small yellow onion, chopped

v  1 small green pepper {I usually use half a bell pepper and a jalapeno pepper for a little kick!}, chopped

v  1 small red pepper, chopped {optional}

v  1 can pinto beans, with juice

v  1 can diced tomatoes, with juice

v  1 can {6 oz.} tomato paste

v  2 envelopes chili seasoning {I typically use 1 mild packet and 1 hot packet, but I like it more on the spicy side. Feel free to adapt to your own personal taste!}

v  1 can full of water {I typically use the 6oz can}

Brown the meat of your choosing in a large pan. Drain excess grease. Add in onions and green peppers, cook until tender, stirring frequently. Add all remaining ingredients, making sure to mix them well. Bring to a boil, cover. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. {Typically, after I brown the meat, I throw it in a crockpot instead along with all of the other ingredients and let is simmer on warm or low for about 3-4 hours. I just get better results that way, and as an added bonus, it makes your house smell DIVINE!}

 

I hope your Wednesday is as incredible as you make it! Feeling bored? Check out one of my favorite blogs to peruse! www.dreaminginblush.com !

Until next time,

Michele Alley<3