My Version of Taco Soup

My crock pot is a kitchen tool I really wouldn't want to be without. On days where we plan on being busy it is so nice to come home to a nice, hot meal simmering away.  Another plus is if I'm out later than dinner time the members of my family that are home can go ahead and eat if they want to.

This recipe could easily be cooked on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker.  I just usually make it in the crock pot.

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef, turkey, or pork (your preference)
2 c. cooked black beans
1 cup corn
2 c. tomato sauce
1 c. diced tomatoes w/green chili's (or just use plain diced tomatoes if you're not into spicy)
2 T. taco type seasoning
1 T. chili powder
1 tsp. onion powder (or could use 1/3 cup chopped onion)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Brown your meat & drain off any fat.  Then pour everything else into the crockpot.  Add in just enough water to where everything is just covered.  Cook on low for about 7 hours or high for about 4.

You can serve this as is or you can pour some over some tortilla or frito chips. Then sprinkle on a little shredded cheese.

This is so easy & you can adapt pretty much any of the ingredients to suit your taste.

This makes about 7 good sized bowls.

A Short Word:

The Good Old Days:

 

God says:

  To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

      ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

It's all right to remember and treasure things from the past,

but God always wants us to enjoy each new day and live it to the fullest,

with gratitude.

What's up doc?

My daughter & my son's girlfriend hard at work peeling away!

Do carrots really help you to see better?
Sure they do.  Have you ever seen a bunny wearing glasses?
My son used to love that joke.

We finally got some rain last week so we went out, in the rain, and pulled up all of the carrots that were left in the garden.
Carrots are mostly tops so with the tops we had 2 laundry baskets full of carrots.

Sunday after church we sat out on the porch and cut off all of the tops & ends.

Then brought them in for a through washing & peeled them.

After we set all of the small ones in a pile and cut the others into coins.

The stove was busy.  Some of the carrots here waiting to be blanched and some tomato sauce cooking on the left.
 

Blanched them for about 3 minutes and then allowed them to drain & cool.

Then we packed them up in freezer bags & in the freezer they went.

We ended up with 10 bags full.

So now we've got plenty of squash & carrots put up!

I really appreciated the help I got from the family or I'd have been at this all day. With everyone helping it took us about 2 hours from start to finish.

As for all the green tops & peels they didn't go to waste. The chickens loved them.

Thanks y'all!

(You can easily can carrots, I just personally don't like the texture of a canned carrot)

Happy Pigs on the Homestead

We have 4 pigs on our homestead.  2 Hampshire & 2 Berkshire. 
Not much here goes to waste. All of our vegetable and fruit scraps go to the animals.
Yesterday after peeling all of those apples the pigs really enjoyed them.
They also got their mud holes filled up so they are muddy, but very happy! 

Apple Butter

Yesterday we picked a bushel of apples from the only apple tree on the homestead.  They are a green, granny smith variety.   They are much too tart to enjoy just eating plain but they make really good apple butter & applesauce. 
This year it was a family affair.  I really appreciated the help & it went much faster & we ended up with a delicious result!

I have 2 crockpots an oval traditional type and then I have an electric pressure canner that can also function as a crockpot. 

We used the apple corer, peeler, slicer and then handed that off to the next person who used a paring knife to cut off the remainder of the skin & any bad spots.  Then the next one filled up both crockpots with the slices. 

To each pot we added 2 cups of sugar, 4 tsp. of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. cloves, and 1 1/2 cups water.

Now time to wait! 

Put on the lids and cook for 8-12 hours.  Depending on your cooker.  Stir every couple of hours.  I let it cook over night.

The apples will turn to 'mush' and when they are all tender and dark it's done. 

If you like it a little chunky then leave it alone.  If not use a stick blender & smooth it out.  (I did)

You can store it in the refrigerator or freezer.  If you make a lot, like we did, you can also can it.

To can your apple butter place it in pint or half-pint jars. 

Canning time is 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

(Please look up canning procedures if you have never canned before & you do so at your own risk.)

Homemade Meat Sauce

We are fortunate enough have a big garden every year & I can all of my own tomato products. --Except ketchup.  Well, I actually have made homemade ketchup but my daughter really prefers the store bought kind so I do buy ketchup.

So now on to the sauce...

Homemade Meat Sauce

3/4 - 1 lb. of ground beef
1 quart or 4 c. tomato puree
1/4 c. tomato paste
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 T. chopped garlic
1 T. basil
1 T. parsley
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Brown beef & drain off the fat. ( I add some salt & pepper to the beef while browning.)
Then add in all of the rest of the ingredients.
Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.- About as long as it takes to boil the water & cook the noodles.

That's it. Serve over pasta, vegetables, etc.

*I do not add sugar to my tomato puree or paste when I make them myself. If you are buying them in the cans taste the sauce before adding in the sugar. You may not need it.

Super Easy Oven BBQ Chicken & Roasted Veggies

Last night we had a really healthy & delicious dinner of oven BBQ chicken & roasted veggies.
The best thing about this recipe is the prep is very easy & you just throw it all into the oven for about an hour.

Oven BBQ Chicken, Roasted Veggies, & Green Beans
 

Oven BBQ Chicken:

Any chicken pieces you like.  Boneless or bone-in.  (I used chicken thighs & pulled off the skin)
BBQ sauce- any flavor
Cooking spray or non-stick foil

Spray your baking sheet with the non-stick spray or line it with foil.
Place the chicken pieces so they are not touching. 
Then paint on some BBQ sauce.
Bake at 350 until done.
Baste with the BBQ sauce 2-3 more times while cooking.


Roasted Veggies:
Any veggies you like cut up into bite sized pieces. (I used sweet potato, squash, carrots, onion, & mushrooms)
Drizzle with olive or coconut oil.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, & any other herbs you like.
Toss well & bake along with the chicken.

350 for about 30 minutes - 1 hour depending on what veggies you use.
Stir half way through cooking.

I served this meal with some green beans because I had them left-over from another meal.