It's cold out there!

It's cold out there. You didn't want to get out of bed this morning and start fixin' supper for tonight but dang it, someone has to.

I call this my fool proof 10 minute chili

If you've got 10 or so minutes before you gotta be somewhere, you don't feel like foolin' with nothing, or you just want some dang good chili this recipe is for you:

 

 

The ingredients are simple:

Some chopped onion (optional)

 (I use some/enough measures mostly. Not everyone likes what the next person likes)

(my friend Meredith gave me the term some/enough. It's true. That's how most country cookin' is done.)

1 TSP Minced Garlic

1 Handful of Sliced Fresh Mushrooms

1 LB Grass fed ground beef (or whatever brand you prefer)

2 Cans Diced Basil, Garlic, and Oregano Tomatoes

2 Cans Plain Diced Tomatoes

1 Can Black Beans (rinsed)

1 Can Red Kidney Beans (rinsed)

We do not use chili powder in a chili, I know, shocker.

I sprinkle in Onion Powder, Tony Creole Seasoning, and Garlic Salt.

 

Take a large pan and add a pat of butter. Throw in your garlic, onion, and fresh mushrooms and let them sauté a second. Then add your ground beef and cook until brown

 (Aldi started carrying Organic Grass Fed Beef. You would have thought it was Christmas!)

 

This is the part I throw in "some/enough" pepper and salt. Just throw some in the pan, you ain't gonna hurt it.

 

As your beef is browning go ahead and open your can of kidney beans and black beans, put them in a strainer and rinse until the water runs clear:

 

Throw them in your crockpot

 

Then take your 4 cans of tomatoes and open them up, DO NOT DRAIN

 

Toss them in the crockpot.

 

Once the beef is done drain the grease (if there is any) off and toss it in the crockpot as well

Sprinkle the dynamic trio on (probably about a half teaspoon each)

 

Give it a quick stir, set that sucker on low, and let it go for the rest of the day.

 

Everything in this crockpot is already cooked so all you gotta worry about is it bein' warm.

I suggest low for 4 to 6 hours. I've had it before when it's been in the crockpot for 8 hours and its still fine. I told you, it's fool proof.

Some optional things you could add would be corn, celery, colorful peppers(orange, green, yellow) etc.

 

Now, I just put mine in the crockpot, and though I've made this recipe about a hundred times, I don't have an after picture for you. I'll take one tonight and post it tomorrow.

However, once you dish out your chili it's fair game. If your family prefers chili spices (I suggest you try it without first) then put chili spice on it. In our house I put a little sprinkle of cheese and a teaspoon of sour cream. Chris (my fiancé) puts more Tony's and a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Both are delicious. I'd say this recipe easily feeds 5 adults.

 

Enjoy y'all!



Can't beat a good deal.

Y'all listen,

If there is one thing I love more than learning to be self-sufficient, it's a good deal.

I can't pass up good deals. For this reason I am a bit of a coupon queen.

I don't stand in line for triples and doubles, I don't have a big ol' binder, and I certainly can't find the time to rummage through garbage cans or dumpsters to look for coupons.

However, when I can get a good deal, I take it.

 

Seeing as how black Friday has come and gone I missed out telling y'all how you can get $187 worth of Bath and Body Works product for only $40...

 Next time, ladies.

 

 

Bath and body works cycles on deals. Regularly you can get wall-flower(their fancy Glade plug in) either 4 for $20 or 6 for $24

Then, occasionally, they have 5 for $20 or 7 for $24 hand soaps (stock up!)

Also, one of my favorites, is 2 for $22 candles.

Now, you can spend about all your life savings on candles and hand soaps and wall flowers and your house will smell wonderful and everything will be right in the world; but you'd be better off getting these things discounted which:

A. Makes you feel like you go a deal

B. Brings the price of the product a little closer to what it's actually worth.

 

Now, the more you go to BBW and enter your e-mail at check out, so on...the more coupons and deals you get.

 

The one I'd like to tell you about today is 2 for $22 candles and the glorious smell of

Marshmallow Fireside:

 

Bath and Body Works has a lab full of mad scientists who are absolute GENIUS' when coming up with these little delights. A mix of camp fire and sweet marshmallow(and just when we though the smell of campfire was awful)

I have had nothing but compliments when I burn this candle.

 

When 2 for $22 candles rolls around my fiancé and I STOCK UP!

(they burn for up to 45 hours a piece.)

Considering these large candles are $22.50 a piece it's easy to be talked into a buy one get one situation.

 

Now, as I mentioned before, the more you use e-mail, shop, etc the more coupons you receive.

What we typically do:

1. Pick two candles- $22
2. Each additional candle- $11.50
3. Use $10 off $30 coupon- -$10

 

Add it all up and you get THREE beautiful, long lasting, delicious smelling candles for the price of one.

You end up paying about $7.84 per candle

Sorry y'all, but Wal-Mart ain't even that cheap.

 

Stay tuned- I'll post more about good deals as I come across them.

 

See y'all later!

Home made dishwasher tabs!

Who wants a CHEAPER and more NATURAL way to do dishes?

Paying boat loads bi-weekly for dish washer tabs?

Want to make some of your own??

ME, ME, PICK ME!!!

 

Super easy DIY Dishwasher Tabs

 

Let's do a quick shopping list run down.

Borax: $9.96 for 76oz

Super Washing Soda(Not the same as baking soda. This science baby makes water...wetter. Weird, right?): $9.06 for 56 oz

(On Amazon you can buy the 76oz Borax and 56oz Super washing soda as a package deal for $15.75. As it turns out, Super washing soda is hard to find in my area. For some of you, you'll be better off buying it online. Plan ahead!)

Lemon Juice: Aldi $1

Kosher salt: BI-LO $1

(You can use sea salt, kosher salt, any coarse salt...)

Ice trays: Dollar Tree 2 for $1

 

 In a large bowl add 1 cup Borax

 

 

1 cup Super Washing Soda

 

 

1/2 cup Kosher salt(or other coarse salt)

 

 

1/2 to 3/4 cup Lemon juice( I ended up using 3/4 cup)

 

 

This is what the mixture looked like with only 1/2 cup lemon juice. Still too powdery in my opinion.

 

Fill the ice trays about half way each cube. Let these set up for about 24 hours.

If you put these cubes in a tub before they are dry they turn into one large lump that is about impossible to break up.

 

And there you have it!

 

 

DIY super cheap Dishwashing Tabs!!

 

 

 

 

Recipe:

1c Borax

1c Washing Soda

1/2c Coarse Salt

1/2-3/4c Lemon Juice

 

Enjoy ya'll! 



 



 

 

The smell of BACON!

My sweet fiancé was slaving over a sizzling griddle of bacon this morning when he held up a piece that was just about pure fat.
"I'm not eatin it, you want it?"
He knows in this house we waste not. There is always a purpose for everything.
"Of course! Just put it back in there"

I got a mess of green beans about to get slathered in grease, slow cooked, and ate with Thanksgiving left overs!

Stay tuned, y'all. I'll be posting pictures and step by step instructions!

Hey y'all!

My name is Colette but thanks to my sweet little sugar cookie(my 7 year old niece) I go by Coco. 

Lord willin', we're gonna make this blog your go to for country cookin', livin', and know how. 

I am currently a full-time pre-nursing student.

I also hold a full-time job at a nursing facility.

In my down time my true colors come out full force.

I'm 27 years young but I've always been told I'm wise beyond my years, an old soul, and old fashioned. I love canning, cooking from scratch, and being a home maker. 

That's where this blog comes in. On a regular basis I get asked how I made this or that, if I can give my recipe for this dish or that dish, and if I can go through the steps of canning, what I'd do if..., and home remedies.

I'd love to! 

Here we go, y'all.