Homemade Bean Dip

So, a couple days ago I had a craving for chips and dip.  But not just any dip... no, BEAN DIP!  I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for Frito Lay Bean Dip!  But, because its expensive and full of nasty stuff, I don't buy it very often... So, I decided to try to make my own!  I didn't have re-fried beans, but I DID have chili beans in sauce in my pantry... So- I grabbed the can, and started looking through my fridge and spice cupboard to find ingredients.  I found a poblano, anaheim and jalapeno peppers from my garden in the fridge and grabbed spice that I use in my tacos and chili...  Here is what I came up with.  Please remember, all measurements are approximate as I rarely measure anything when I "create" a recipe!

Rachel's Fabulous Bean Dip

1 can chili beans, with sauce
1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped (you can leave the seeds in for extra heat if you'd like!)
1-2 small anaheim peppers, seeded and chopped (same for the extra heat as the poblanos!)
1 small (and I mean SMALL) jalapeno, seeded and chopped (can use a larger one and/or keep the seeds for more heat!)
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Cheddar Cheese (optional for hot dip)

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  If you want a hot dip, gently add cheese (I would do this in a separate bowl and fold the cheese in), then pour into oven safe dish and broil until hot and bubbly!

Top with sour cream and more cheese for a "layered" dip.  You could also add tomatoes, avocados etc... Be creative!  And be sure to share your creativity with me! :)

Enjoy! :)

Oh How I Love My Crock-pot!

So- I think my new favorite kitchen "gadget" is my crockpot.  I have always used a crockpot, but until the last year or so, didn't realize how useful it really is!!  I use it for goat milk yogurt, casseroles, roasts, chicken, beef etc...  And since my oven isn't working properly at the moment, my crockpot is my best friend (plus it doesn't heat up the house as much as the oven does!!)!

This last week I was going to make Cowboy Mac for dinner, but didn't have enough ground beef.  My parents had just given me a round steak, so I decided to use that instead and make it in the crockpot to make sure the beef was tender.  Wow- was it YUMMY!!!  I think even better than my original Cowboy Mac recipe!!  I will definitely be making it again!!

Crockpot Cowboy Mac

1-2 lbs round steak, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 can tomato soup + 1 can water
1 onion, finely chopped
1 handful fresh basil, chopped
1 handful fresh rosemary, chopped
1 handful fresh oregano, chopped
Beef Broth
1 box short cut pasta (I used medium shells)

Brown onions and beef in a skillet.  Pour into crockpot.  Add in soup, spices, can of water and 1/2 cup or so of beef broth.  Cover and turn crockpot to high.  Cook for 4-6 hours, then turn to low and add pasta (you can add more beef broth if needed).  Cook on low until pasta is cooked.

Enjoy! :)

Hot Days and Cold Beverages!

Ok- so its the middle (almost the end!) of July and its been in the 90's and 100's here for the last couple weeks!  There is nothing I like better on a hot day than a nice, cold, icy beverage!  Some days I prefer home brewed sun tea (I'll share my "recipe" soon!), some days a glass of ice water works... but today, I wanted something "stronger"!  So- knowing I had vodka in the freezer (honestly, vodka is better "ice cold"!), I decided to make up a new drink!  I made some simple syrup (recipe included) and out of half the batch I made GINGER simple syrup (will include this recipe as well!) and then let my brain go to work!  My idea- a Lemon-Ginger Vodka-tini!  So- here are the recipes!

Enjoy! :)

Simple Syrup

1 part water

1 part granulated sugar

Combine both ingredients in a sauce pan over med-high heat until sugar is dissolved!  Remove from heat and let cool.  Store in a jar in a dark cool place!  Simple syrup is great for mixed drinks, iced coffee etc!

Ginger Simple Syrup

Make simple syrup as above, but add minced garlic and simmer for 5-10 minutes (depending on how strong you want it!), then remove from heat and let sit till cool.  Strain and store in a jar in a dark, cool place!

NOW--

Lemon-Ginger Vodka-tini

2 oz vodka

1 oz ginger simple syrup

1/2 oz lemon juice

1-2 springs mint for garnish (optional)

Mix vodka, ginger simple syrup and lemon juice in a low ball glass, stir to combine, add 1-2 ice cubes and top off with lemon sparkling water.  Garnish with mint sprig and Enjoy!!

My Favorite Comfort Food...

... Lasagna!!  I LOVE lasagna!!  Unfortunately, growing up with an allergy to dairy products, I could never eat it and the dairy free version was never very tasty.  Then, my mom found a recipe for Double Mushroom Lasagna.  It called for Cream of Mushroom soup which, when cooked, I've never had a problem with- we were in business!!  Ever since then it has been my FAVORITE lasagna recipe and I used to make it A LOT when I was single and living on my own.  Once my hubby and I got married, I made it for him, and he wasn't a big fan- see, he grew up with the real deal, and this just wasn't the same.  I made it less and less often...  Until this past weekend... I changed it up quite a bit and DH LOVED it!!!  I still need to tweak it just a little, but I will include the anticipated "tweaks" in the recipe below...  So- lasagna is back on the menu at our house!! :)  Of course- I need to find a good gluten free noodle recipe to try, because I'm still trying to stay away from an over abundance of gluten...  and feeling quite good when I don't it eat it, I might add! :)  If you're eating gluten free, you could substitute zucchini and or eggplant for the noodles if desired! :)  Once I find a yummy, easy recipe for gluten free noodles, I will share it here with you! :)  So- here's my recipe that I used this weekend with my "tweaks"... :)

NOTE: This recipe only makes 1- 8x8 or 9x9 pan... it is easily doubled.  I do recommend doubling the soup/milk mixture anyway, and if you're doubling the rest of the recipe, I would recommend tripling it... :)

Beefy Mushroom Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
2 chicken breasts, browned and cooked through, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I used my home canned sauce, but you can make your own or buy your preferred sauce at the store)
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup (I'm thinking if your fam doesn't like mushrooms, you could use Cream of Chicken instead!  This is one the "tweaks" I'm going to try next time!)
1/4 C milk
1 1/2-2 C cottage cheese (another "tweak" I'm going to try- NOT in the original recipe so can be omitted)
6 cooked lasagna noodles
1 C shredded cheddar cheese (you can use mozzarella instead)

In a small bowl, combine soup and milk- set aside; in a 3 qt sauce pan, brown ground beef, stirring to separate; spoon off fat; Stir in cooked, diced chicken, spaghetti sauce and garlic; in an 8-inch square (can use 9-inch) baking dish, ladle 1 1/2 cup of meat mixture (till bottom of dish is covered), top with 2 lasagna noodles (you'll need to cut them to size and you can use the cut ends to cover the rest of the layer); cover with 1/2 C of soup mixture; top with thin layer of cottage cheese; repeat until meat mixture, soup mixture and noodles are gone (1-2 more times); Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake at 400F for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbling.  Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving!!  I serve french bread and salad as sides.

Enjoy! :)

Pleasing a large crowd...

Happy 2013!  Can't believe we're onto a new year, and I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a big year for us!!  We rang in the New Year with a couple friends of ours.  I had invited LOTS of people over for a huge bonfire for New Year's Eve, and so I needed something to make to feed everyone!!  I decided on my Weeknight Chili.  Its easy and cheap to make and its EASILY doubled (or even tripled!) to feed a large crowd.  Well, only a couple people showed up, so we've been eating chili for 3 days (which is ok, 'cause it meant I didn't have to cook last night or lunch today!)!  Here's the recipe!

Weeknight Chili

Brown in a large pot:

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

Add:

1 can kidney beans, undrained

1 can chili beans in sauce, undrained

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 T apple cider vinegar

2 T chili powder

1/2-1 tsp chipotle chili powder (more or less to taste!)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

Beer to taste (I like to use a darker beer such as Session Dark, but have also used a lager such as Black Star, and usually use about 8-10 oz)

Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Top with toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped onions or chopped chives.

*NOTE:  I have also added 1/2-1 tsp cinnamon powder to make it more of a Cincinnati style chili. 

Enjoy! :)

photo by Jordan Howard (Thanks Jordan!) :)

Rachel's (Soon to Be) Famous Tater Soup!

So, once again, winter is quickly approaching and the nights (and even the days!) are getting colder!  Time to break out the soup pot and make some delicious soups, stews and chili!!  I love soups in the winter first because they warm me up and second I can make a HUGE batch for cheap and freeze the leftovers to use on a night that I don't feel like cooking (or feed my entire family which is a feat in and of itself with 3 teenage brothers!).  So, here is my new potato soup recipe...  DH (dear husband) RAVED about this last night, so I figured I'd better share it with y'all!

Rachel's (Soon To Be) Famous Tater Soup

1-2 pounds of potatoes (I used red taters, but you can use whatever you have on hand or prefer!), cubed
1 large yellow or sweet onion, diced
4-5 slices turkey bacon (you can use pork or beef bacon if you prefer)
1-2 Tbs oil
salt and pepper to taste
6+ C chicken stock (I make my own stock and I swear that's why this soup was better than previous batches!)
1-2 cups of milk
1/2 C heavy cream
1 small bag frozen corn
Chopped chives, grated cheese, sour cream for garnish (or anything else you like on your tater soup!)

Heat oil in large soup/stock pot; cut bacon into small strips (I use my kitchen shears) and add to hot oil; start to brown then add onion; add taters and salt and pepper and cook until onion is tender and semi-translucent.  Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer until taters are fork tender (20-30 minutes roughly), add corn, milk and heavy cream (can add more seasonings here too if needed).  Bring back to a simmer and simmer for 5-10 minutes until heated through.  Serve with your choice of bread and garnishes and enjoy!  I garnished ours with chopped chives.

Enjoy!

Homemade Natural Soft Scrub Cleaner

Ok, so I found this on someone else's blog (Thank you EcoKaren!  I will link to it at the bottom of this article!), and tried it today and I'm happy to say it worked!!  I don't know about you- but I LOVE the cleanliness of my bathroom when I use the store bought Soft Scrub...  however, I DON'T care for the smell, the fumes, the chemicals in it OR the fact that when I use it, I have to be careful not to get bleach on my clothes!!  So- when I found this, I knew I HAD to try it on the stubborn stains, residue etc in my bathrooms.  And the smell is nice (make sure you get the PEPPERMINT liquid castile soap, or, a scented castile bar that you like the smell of!) and there's NO bleach in it!!!  Genius!!

All Natural Soft Scrub

about 3/4 C Baking Soda
about 1/4 C Castile Soap (BUY Peppermint. You can thank me later.)*
about 2 Tbsp Water
about 2 Tbsp Vinegar

I didn’t use this “exact” formula – that’s why the amounts say “about”. Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl with a spoon. When you add water and soap to baking soda, it will get kinda hard. But keep mixing as best as you can. Then, add the vinegar. Adding the vinegar LAST is kinda important as that’s what makes it creamy. It will bubble up when you add the vinegar but it’ll get smooth and frothy when you mix it – kinda like face cream-like consistency. You can add more or less of the vinegar, depending on how thick you want the scrub to be. You don’t have to add that much.

If you don’t use it up, the leftover will get hard. Just add some more Castile soap and vinegar, mix thoroughly, and you are good to go!

Happily scrub away with this minty, all-natural soft scrub, without the awful commercial soft scrub smell.

Resist the urge to brush your teeth with it as it’s not proven to be safe for brushing your teeth. But do use this on the counter, toilet, and even on the faucet where you need some non-abrasive scrubbing action.

If your bathtub seems to drain a little slow after cleaning with this scrub, baking soda might have settled down in the pipe. Add about 1/4 C of full strength vinegar, pour hot water immediately afterwards and cover the drain. Do this ONLY if water doesn’t seem to be draining. By the way, this is the natural way to unclog drains. So this is a great time to unclog, while you are cleaning your bathtub.

*MY note: I used bar castile soap and shaved enough to make 1/4 C... but I think the original poster meant to use liquid soap.  I bought a tea tree bar, and really liked the scent... I just hope my hubby doesn't mind it- he HATES the smell of tea tree!!

Enjoy!!

Here is the link to the original post: http://www.ecokaren.com/2011/09/natural-soft-scrub-and-weekend-round-up/