baked bacon. the only way to go.

been frying bacon for years? yup me too.  until i discovered baked bacon (i hate to say it, via Martha Stewart).  sounds silly and redundant.  but it is soooooooooooo good and easy and mess-free!

pic via

baked bacon
cover cookie sheet with tinfoil (easy clean-up). preheat oven to 375, bake for 20-24 minutes, turning halfway through.  the fat will render out and drip through the rack onto the foil.  the bacon all cooks at the same time and rate and cooks flat.  awesome.

homemade chili seasoning. & chili. & amazing corn muffins.

someday i'm going to catch up on this blog (i'm almost a whole year behind!) and someday i'm going to write a book.  a cookbook.

here's to frugal and easy.  me likey both. and the best part was that when i was out of chili packets the other day i didn't need to run to the store.  oh no, just consult my besty pinterest and use things i already had stored in my cupboards.  did i happen to mention how CUTE my spice cabinet came out!  ah in love.  with my spice cabinet.  that's right.

              before (blah!)                               after (ooh lala!!!)

  

onto the recipes:

pic {my baking addiction}.

homemade chili seasoning: 3 T. = 1 store-bought pkg.
1/3 C. chili powder
1 T. salt
1 1/2 T. garlic powder
2 T. cumin
1 T. dried basil

1) combine well and store in an airtight tupperware.  

i like to use a pint-sized mason jar with an adorable label of course! they make plastic lids that screw onto canning jars.  i loooove these things.  they are anywhere (usually) that sells canning supplies.

pic {hgtv}.

homemade chili: serves 8.
1 lb. ground beef or turkey (optional) you all know i have a man that loves his meat, but sometime i make this veggie-style
1-2 green peppers (or any other color), diced
1 small-medium onion, diced
1-2 tsp. minced garlic
2 pints (or cans) kidney beans
2 pints (or cans) black beans
2 quarts (or large cans) diced tomatoes (with the juice)
2 small cans tomato paste
3 T. of homemade chili seasoning (or 1 store bought packet)

1) fry meat with garlic, peppers and onions until well-browned and cooked through.  i like my meat to be browned really well.  i think it gives it more depth of flavor.  

when i don't use meat i'll "brown" 1 can of each of the beans along with the garlic and veggies to deepen the flavors.  

2) drain meat in a colander.  i do not rinse it; just let it drain really well and shake it around some to let the fat drip out.  when you rinse it your rinsing away a lot of the flavor.

3) add meat mixture to a large soup pot and stir in seasonings, tomatoes, and paste.  let simmer until flavors combine well and chili is warmed through and thick.  easy.  

and one of the best parts of this fall comfort food for me is that i can use almost everything right from my garden or canning. it's inexpensive, especially  if you omit meat and it's super duper yummy with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of shredded cheese, a handful of crushed tortilla chips and a corn muffin of course!

you could get all fancy with this and add macaroni or ditalini noodles, corn, avocado, cilantro, black olives, chives or green onions or any other variation of Mexican flare. you could serve it over potatoes, french fries, nachos, rice... i like it simple. just like my mom served it. although when we were kids we loved a melted piece of American cheese on top.

you can also make up several batches and can some for a quick healthy dinner to grab right off your pantry shelf!!!

pic {kitchen trial and error} and recipe {i found happy}.

amazing corn muffins. a.k.a. jalapeno bacon corn muffins: makes 12 muffins.
1 1/4 C. cornmeal
3/4 C. flour
3 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 T. parsley
2 T. diced pickled jalapenos
4 pieces cooked bacon, blotted and crumbled (i bake mine in the oven, see here)
1/2 C. shredded cheese
1/2 C. creamed corn
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 C. milk (i use powdered)
2/3 C. buttermilk (i use powdered)
2 T. canola oil

1) heat oven to 425.  

2) mix all dry ingredients.  

3) mix wet ingredients, other than the canola oil.  beat eggs and milk and add wet to dry.  

4) fold in jalapenos, bacon, corn, cheese and add oil. 

5) stir until just combined.  

6) spray muffin tin and fill muffin cups ALL THE WAY to the brim.

7) bake at 425 for 6 minutes and then reduce heat (without opening the oven) to 350, continuing to bake for an additional 6 minutes.  (this allows muffins to rise fast and then bake through; leaving a taller , fluffier muffin!)

8) remove when toothpick comes out clean in the middle. 

sweet and spicy- so good you can't just eat one!

the sacrament. a few thoughts from journaling.

-in remembrance of Christ's atoning sacrifice- which we mock when we sin and are not worthy to partake of the sacrament

-the sacrament is our time to commune with Christ, to recommit ourselves to Him

-Christ instituted the sacrament on the Eve of his crucifixion because it was going to be a gift, a vital way for us to stay connected to Him.

-someday Christ will sit down with us and partake of the sacrament when he comes again on this earth.  He instituted the sacrament during the First Supper and he will end it when we no longer need it when He is once again on the Earth during His millennial reign

-it is through His atonement and power through the sacrament that we find our own personal salvation

-the covenants we make with God involve covenants to DO, not merely refraining from doing things God does not want us to do/that are not good for our spirits.  We are to work rightouseness as well as to avoid evil.

Christmas activities.

some of the activities that went on during the Christmas season....

brady had "crazy hair day" at school so we tied his hair up into a ton of pig tails and tied them with red and green ribbons.  he really wanted to have crazy hair this year because last year he didn't do it, but when he got to school he didn't see as many kids as he hoped with crazy hair so then he was embarrassed!

school concert with one of his best buds in his class, Daeson.  they had an adorable performance!

brady's hair looks silly in this picture (not gelled) , but isn't his life-size toy soldier so cute!!!???

making gingerbread houses and a gingerbread train.  we thought we'd be a little creative this year making the train, but we'll stick with gingerbread houses.  the trains' wheels didn't stay on very well and we had a lopsided train!  the kids sure had fun though, they love doing this every year!

another fun surprise was that my friend Rachel from college stopped in to say hi while visiting for her sisters' wedding.  we got to catch up a little and it was great to see her smiling face.