Monthly Musings

Linking up with  Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings

1. Start early- go to bed a little earlier starting the week before a time disrupter (like a school alarm!) to get used to changing the rhythm of the day.

2. I am going to share my chili recipe. I have not made this in years because my beloved youngest, the one who had the audacity to grow up and leave home, does not care for it. She was the only kid at home for three years after Abby started college. It made no sense to make something that La Petite Fussy One did not like. But now, bereft of my last child at home (oh, I will stop with the drama soon... or try to!!), I'm going to make chili soon since both Donnie and I like it.  Am gonna need cooler temps though...Maybe by later next week?

Crock pot chili recipe

2 lbs of ground beef
1 29- ounce can of tomato sauce
2- 15 ounce cans of kidney beans (with liquid)
2- 15 ounce cans of pinto beans (with liquid)
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 cup diced onion
1/4  cup diced celery
3 Tablespoons ground cumin
3 Tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups of water

Directions: Place onion, celery and meat in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meat. Drain off excess fat.

Add the meat, celery and onion to a large crock pot. Add all of the other ingredients.

Adjust anything (obviously!) per personal preference. The original recipe (that I tweaked a lot) called for some unacceptably low amounts of cumin and chili powder. A tiny amount of those spices was a hard no!

Cook on the low setting of the crock pot for about two hours, stirring occasionally.

You can't see it, but I know it- there's homemade chili in the crock pot. I had an easy meal ready for my sister and her family when they came into town a couple of days after Christmas one year. On Christmas day, I had spent a lot of time in the kitchen, hosting a big meal for Donnie's side of the family. I was grateful that I got to see my family after Christmas but making another large meal did not sound appealing! Chili and homemade bread had to suffice :)

3. I like to wear some of my favorite cashmere sweaters when the temperatures start to dip. And lots of hoodies.

4. I don't think I have a favorite part :(.

5. Our school district has a homecoming football game and dance. When the kids were in high school, they participated in the dance.

6. Apple pie!

7. The leaves definitely change; peak foliage is usually late October

What the leaves look like from May to October

Peak prettiness- this was last year on October 21st.

8. Homemade caramel sauce- I don't really have a go to recipe; most are pretty similar, and I just usually do a search on homemade caramel sauce and pick one. I very much prefer homemade to store bought. And it's fun to say that you made it yourself, not to mention it's cheaper and bereft of many preservatives that you'd have with store bought. Most recipes call for granulated sugar, butter, salt and heavy cream or milk.

Caramel sauce pairs well with mostly homemade caramel brownies. Delicious anytime of the year but nice when clothing norms of the season cover more of the body which generally happens in the fall :).

9. Bonfire

10.  I can't think of any, really. Ferris Buellers Day Off reminds me of school though not necessarily the school year beginning.