Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

My blog will return after the holidays!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

God bless everyone!

Anne-Marie

Recipe of the week - Three Bean Chili

Three Bean Chili

Makes 8 to 10 servings

2 pounds lean ground round
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 16-ounce cans Dark Red Kidney Beans
2 16-ounce cans Pinto Beans
2 16 ounce can Black Beans
1 14.5-ounce chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
Sour cream to garnish
Sliced green onions to garnish

Brown ground beef in Dutch oven or stock pot. Add chili powder while browning and mix in well. Add onion and pepper to meat and brown for 2 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in remaining ingredients except sour cream. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and sliced green onions.

It'll warm your insides.

Enjoy!

Sound of Music Live with Carrie Underwood

Did any of you watch the Sound of Music last Thursday, the 5th?

I did. Sound of Music is my absolute favorite movie of all time. I've seen it probably a couple of dozen times and know the dialogue, what happens when, and where and when songs are sung.

The live version was good, but I can't help feeling a bit dissappointed, let down. So much of the original movie was culled and things didn't happen where they happened in the original movie. Songs were added, songs were cut.

Yes, I realize the producers and writers never intended it to be a remake of Julie Andrew's version, but I think they should have given the new production a different name.

Did you like Carrie's version? Or did you feel let down? Do you think they should have renamed Carrier's version instead of stealing the original title?

Recipe of the week - Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 can chicken broth
1 can evaporated milk
2 large or 3 medium baking potatoes, baked or microwaved
Cooked crumbled bacon
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sliced green onions

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, cook, stirring occasionally for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk. Scoop potato flesh from 1 potato (reserve potato skin), mash. Add pulp to broth mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until mixture comes just to a boil. Dice remaining potato skin and potato(es), add to soup. Heat through. Spoon into bowls. Sprinkle each with toppings.

Yummy!

Always a day late...

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I just returned from an extended Thanksgiving vacation with my in-laws. It was great giving thanks for an almost healthy family and seeing everyone for our yearly visit. As you can guess by my Monday blog posts, I spent some fun time baking and cooking for 16 people.

On to the scary part of the trip. :)

I went shopping on black Friday while visiting in South Carolina. Some great power shopping in extremely crowded stores. Belks always has early bird specials until 11:00 am with extra savings only available up to then. Here I go, arms loaded, trying to make my way to a long check out line. Yep, you guessed it. The clock strikes 11:00 am, and where am I? In the back of the other couple of dozen of people trying to make their purchases before the deadline. Thank goodness the store honored the sale for everyone standing in line, or I would have been sunk and out of a couple of hundred dollars in savings.

Have you ever had that coupon or discount stuffed away that you didn't need the item quite then and without realizing it, try using it the day after it expired? Chances are you didn't get the opportunity to use it.

Just a FYI, Bed Bath and Beyond 20% discounts don't expire. Stock them up to use at a later date. Also, Kohl's cash doesn't expire, either. Yes, there are expiration dates on the discount coupons and Kohl's cash, but they're honored at anytime. I'm still using some with expiration dates from two years ago.

Have you ever been a day late on saving money?

Recipe of the week - Beef and Mushroom Stew

Beef and Mushroom Stew

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 pound beef top round, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
1 leek, chopped (white part only)
1 clove garlic, minced
12 ounces mushrooms, sliced (baby portebellas are best)
2 stalks of celery, chopped
3 carrots, halved and sliced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 can reduced sodium beef broth
1/2 cup red wine
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup hot, cook brown rice
Green onions, chopped

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat. Add beef cubes and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Drain and set beef aside.

Add remaining oil to Dutch oven. Add onion, leek and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until onion is tender. Add mushrooms and saute, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in celery, carrots, seasonings, broth, wine and browned beef. Heat to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour or until beef is tender. Stir in peas. Increase heat to medium. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 Tablespoon cold water; blend cornstarch mixture into stew; and cook, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened and bubbly.

To serve, ladle stew into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 Tablespoons hot, cooked brown rice, then garnish with chopped green onions.

Yields six servings.

This is one recipe I never tire of. Freezes great.

Bon appétit