Veggie “Chili”

This recipe originated as a Weight Watchers recipe from years and years (pre-kids) ago.

It came from this cookbook. I think it is out of print, but it is an awesome cookbook. Mine is falling apart, literally, from all of the uses it has gotten. The pages are dog-eared and stained with cooking messes, but the recipes have withstood the test of time. We still cook from this book regularly.

One of my comfort food recipes in here is veggie “chili.” Now, I grew up being taught that chili, by definition, has meat in it. So, if you go by that definition, this is not really chili. But I find it tastes an awful lot like chili and it has that same hearty goodness that fills you up.

I’ve tinkered with the recipe over the years, so what’s written here is not the same as what’s in the cookbook. This is our version of the veggie chili we started with in the cookbook.

I know the weather is getting warmer, but this is great if you have a rainy day or just have a hankerin’ for something like chili, but with a healthier twist.

Lois’ Veggie “Chili”

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 can tomatoes with chilies
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
olive oil
Houston House Seasoning
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1/2 cup barley
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 package ranch salad dressing mix
1 (32-ounce) package beef broth
1 cup julienned or finely chopped carrot

Sauté carrots, onion & bell pepper in olive oil until tender.
(the rest you can do in a crock pot or on the stove)
Add corn, tomatoes and beans. Add broth & seasonings. Finally, add barley.
Cook on simmer/low for at least 30-45 minutes or until barley is fully cooked.

Serve with tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, sour cream and shredded cheese.

Photo of the Day 4/26: And Yet more Homework

Sometimes you slow down…

… and enjoy the little things.

We spent the weekend at a little slower pace than we have spent the past few weekends.

Partly because Little Bit was feeling under the weather. Partly because I was just tired and ready for a break.

It was nice.

Saturday, I spent some time catching up on my reading/homework for my bible study class.

And helping Big Girl learn how to fold those silly fortune-teller thingys all kids seem to get hooked on making at one time or another:

Of course, Buster Dog was at my feet – which is where he would prefer to spend 90% of his lifetime (the other 10% would be spent eating or chasing squirrels, I think)

And Little Bit ventured outside for a little recreation for a few minutes:

SuperMan cut the grass (I was “helping” him while I read)

And then we started on THE BIG PROJECT of the weekend – My Easter/Mother’s Day vegetable garden. I’m so excited!

Big Girl even recruited the neighbors to help dump the bags of topsoil.

It’s a raised bed on the sunny side of the house. I absolutely can’t wait until things start popping up!

Sunday, we went and got the last of the dirt – and the most important thing – plants & seeds!!

*cue the Green Acres theme song here*

It was an awesome weekend.And it’s an awesome Mother’s Day/Easter present.

Thank you, SuperMan.

Photo of the Day 4/25: Planting the Garden

Menu Plan Monday ~ 25 April

The kids are out of school today (queue the choirs of angels singing) and that means a slow, easy start to my Monday. Which I absolutely LOVE. I think all Mondays should be this way. I don’t mind working on Monday, but I think easing into the week at about 10AM should be the way to go. You know, kinda sneak up on things.

Little Bit is still battling her bug… guess that means we’ll be back at the pediatrician today sometime. I’m waiting for her to wake up now so that I know how good or bad she is feeling.

This week may prove to be a bit hectic, I am afraid. I am traveling for work next week and my mom (bless her) is coming up to take care of the girls while I am gone. So, in addition to my normal stuff, I’m going to be working on getting everything in order for her so that it is easy and hopefully low stress for her to step into my shoes while I’m gone. I know the girls are going to love having their Ammi here and will not miss me at all – they will be spoiled rotten when I get home, but that is a good thing to make up for having Mommy be away for a week.

The weather is warming up and I’m craving light and easy foods – chicken salad, garden salads, etc. I think we will be doing a lot of grilling this week, as long as Mother Nature cooperates and doesn’t give us these afternoon showers that the weather people are predicting. I don’t have a lot of confidence in their forecasts, though. Daddy always said the weathermen lie. 😉

We spent the weekend planting a small garden. SuperMan’s “Easter basket” for me. I am so excited and can’t wait to see things start to grow and produce. I’m sure I will be posting pictures here to share with you.

So, enough rambling – here’s the menu:

Grilled Chicken, roasted broccoli, potatoes
Homemade pizzas – still haven’t gotten around to making these! I may change things up a bit and make this instead.
Another batch of Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo (the kids said they didn’t get enough last week)
Grilled pork chops, saffron rice & veggies – or maybe Slow Cooker Pork Chops. I have some pork chops in the freezer I need to cook.
“Rotisserie” crock pot chicken
Chicken salad made with the leftover chicken.

I’m also going to bake up some of my baked oatmeal bars so that I can take some with me on my trip next week (I’ll freeze them before I go) and have them to nibble on while I’m on the plane and/or in the hotel room.

And, I have some bananas on the counter that are begging to be made into some banana bread.

What about you?

Photo of the Day 4/24: Easter Sunday morning

Sunday Silliness

Happy Easter to all of you!

We are celebrating the Resurrection together as a family today – and I hope you’re with your loved ones as well.

I thought I’d share some silliness with you today as usual. Some Peep silliness. Did you know that people create all sorts of silly things with Peeps? Why? Because they can, I guess. Seems like a waste of a Peep if you ask me (the girls agree) but they’re cute nonetheless.

Enjoy! (these all from here)

Dancing with the Peeps?

Peep Beetles?

Toilet Peeper – LOL

LOL – Angry Peeps (these are all from here)

These are kind of like my favorite cake decorating blog – Cake Wrecks – have you ever seen that? It’s hysterical. Be prepared to spit out your coffee/tea as you laugh if you click over there. You’ve been warned.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Photo of the Day 4/23: Dangerous Peeps

On a Saturday Morning ~ Easter Weekend

Good Saturday morning to you, my friends…

I’m sitting here in my office with a GIANT cup of hot tea and watching the news while I catch up on blog reading. Haven’t had much time for that this week as Little Bit came down with a nasty case of strep throat. She’s been pretty sick and I’ve been spending most of my time taking care of her. It’s bittersweet, as I hold her in my lap and see her legs and arms dangling over the edges of the recliner. My babies are growing up and it won’t be long before they don’t want me to hold them in this way. So, while I hate that she is sick, I’m loving the extra snuggle time we are having.

Our weekend plans have changed because of her illness and we’re not headed to see family as we had thought. But we are hoping to have some fun ourselves this weekend if she is feeling better – maybe a hike on Sunday afternoon. If not, we’ll just enjoy some relaxing time at home together.

Outside my window… its misty and foggy but looks to be a beautiful day today.

I am thinking… about how quickly things change even though they feel like they will always be the same.

I am thankful… for my house, my family, my health, and my blessings.

From the kitchen…homemade bread, cheese grits and yummy breakfast cooked by SuperMan this morning.

I am wearing…PJs – for as long as I possibly can today. 🙂

I am creating…comfort and care for my sick little one.

I am going…for a walk later today, I hope.

I am reading…The Peach Keeper & How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

I am hoping…that I can get all my reading in this weekend for my class on Tuesday night. I’m loving the class but unaccustomed to having homework to fit into my schedule.

I am hearing…Scooby Cat making blissful noises as she rolls in front of the heating vent and revels in the warm air.

Around the house…chores that have been put on hold while I nursed Little Bit. They can wait.

One of my favorite things…good friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week…Easter Sunday celebrations & bible study class on Tuesday night.

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