Happy Fall Y'all!

image via Google

Happy first day of fall! Now I know, it's 875 degrees outside so it certainly doesn't feel like fall, but I want to talk about it anyway.  With fall comes chilly weather, soups, s'mores, and football. If Christmas was during fall it would definitely be my favorite season.  To kick off this great season, I wanted to give you a variety of fun fall things!

These are my favorite soups that I will make a couple times before it gets warm again (some I've already made this month)!

Crockpot Potato Soup

Chicken and Dumplings

White Chicken Chili

Taco Chili

You're also going to need some go-to desserts. S'mores is a great option and I love mixing it up by using Reese's instead of regular chocolate bars, but sometimes you need a few others. Here are some of my favorites!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Apple Strudel

Pecan Pie

And finally, some of my fall bucket list items for the year:

Go to a pumpkin patch

Carve those pumpkins

Sit around a bonfire

Eat s'mores around that bonfire

Drink apple cider

Play in the leaves

Sit outside and enjoy the crisp air (whenever it finally shows up)

Unplug for a weekend at a cabin in the woods (no TV/cell phones, just beautiful leaves and relaxation).

Attend a couple of fall festivals!

Do you have anything you would add to any of these lists? I'll love to know.

xo Courtney

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SHE Cooks: Gumbo!

Hey y'all so today I'm going to share a great soup recipe for you. With Mardi Gras right around the corner, the gumbo recipe is coming your way just in time!

With a mixture of chicken, sausage, and shrimp you're bound to please just about everyone with this one, and it is perfect for those chilly nights. My favorite part about this gumbo is it's not spicy! I don't like hot or spicy foods so I found a recipe I liked and tailored it to my needs! Adjust the below recipe to your needs. Ex - the original recipe calls for cayenne pepper, so if you like it hot add a 1/4 teaspoon to start. You can always add more, but you can't take away!

**I was so excited to eat this that I failed to take pictures while making it, but it's pretty easy!

Let's talk about what you'll need:

2 (14.5 oz) cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 small can of tomato paste
1 lb chicken thighs, cooked & shredded
1 large sausage link
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
1 green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tablespoon cajun seasoning (or more to taste)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
white or brown rice

This is a great "dump and simmer" recipe. So these instructions are very simple!

In a big pot (or crockpot) add tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken, sausage, chicken broth, green pepper, onion, celery, and all spices. Stir to combine.

Bring this to a boil and then cover and let simmer for about 45 minutes. (if using a crockpot, cook this part on high for 2 hours)

After the 45 minutes, add your shrimp and cook another 10-15 minutes, or until the shrimp is warm.

Serve the gumbo over rice and enjoy!

I'd love to hear what you think in the comments!

xo Courtney

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SHE wants her jeans to fit!

Here we are in the middle of January and I realize my wallet is still empty and my pants are too tight!  I am still feeling the effects of the Christmas Holiday presents and goodies.  Apparently I am not the only one....

So what is a SHE to do?  Well, this SHE goes back to the basics.  About two years ago I went to Weight Watchers and I learned so much.  When my pants get too tight, my middle too thick, I go back to eating good points.  WW lets you eat all the fruits and vegetables you want.  You start getting points for meats, fats and sweets.  You can eat anything you want if you have the points.  I am not one to limit my food categories.  So, I try to be selective with what I eat.  If those cookies are stale or not as good as they look, I will stop eating them.  I cook for a big family and am not a short order cook.  Everyone must eat what I do.  We love soups and the Chicken Fiesta Soup is a favorite.  It is quick, easy and most importantly very few points.  Eating this soup during the week along with salads and some hiking and I will be back in my jeans in no time!!

I hope you and your family like it too!!

Chicken Fiesta Soup

1 16 oz. can Fat Free refried beans
1 14oz.  can fat Free chicken broth
1 11oz.  whole-kernel corn with liquid
1 15 1/2 oz. can of black beans rinsed and drained
1 5 oz. can 94% fat free chicken breast meat with liquid
  or 1 cup cooked chopped chicken breast
1 onion chopped
1 cup chunky salsa
1 small can of mild green chilies

Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.  Simmer for about half an hour.  Stir occasionally.
You can top this with fat free sour cream and fat free cheese....this does add more calories or points.

Weight Watchers points  1 cup = 2 points

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SHE Cooks: White Chicken Chili

Everyday I feel myself turning into my mom more and more. One part of my mom that I'm happy I picked up is her love of cooking. Growing up we spent hours in the kitchen cooking, baking, laughing and now we talk on the phone constantly about new recipes we've tried. One of my all time favorite recipes she makes is her white chicken chili. Everyone who tries it falls in love, it's super easy and perfect for these freezing winter nights! 

Ingredients:

Makes 4-6 bowls.

2-3 Chicken Breasts (Boiled & shredded)

2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can of Chicken Broth

1 Can of Diced Green Chilies 

2 Cans of Navy Beans (Undrained) 

2 Cans of Shoepeg Corn (Drained) 

A Handful of Cilantro 

2 Tablespoons of Garlic

1 Tablespoon of Oregano 

3 Tablespoons of Butter

1 Tablespoon of Cumin 

2 Tablespoons of White Pepper

Directions

1. In a stock pot combine chicken soup and chicken broth, beans and corn. Bring to a boil.

2. In a skillet melt butter, add in the green chiles and garlic (You can also add diced onions). Let simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Once the stock pot has come to a boil add in chicken, all spices and the skillet mixture. 

4. Simmer for 25 minutes.

5. Top with cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, avocado and serve with french bread or tortilla chips.

ENJOY! 

This is a fun alternative to your normal ground beef chili and I swear it will be one of your favorite dinners ever! In fact, I think I have to make this for dinner now! XO,

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Taco Chili for Chilly Winter Days

Hey Y'all,

     

Happy New Year!   So the holiday season has come and gone and now we begin... Winter.   It has started to feel a little more like winter this week after our record breaking warm temperatures during Christmas. I am not a big fan of the frigid cold, but I sure enjoy a snowy Saturday.  I love to watch the snow fall and listen to the complete quiet of the moment.  I love having my family all home and hanging out in the kitchen.

A cold winter day goes perfect with this yummy Taco Chili.   The recipe was given to me by a friend and it is so easy and everyone seems to think it is pretty tasty. 

 




          

                   Taco Chili

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained (I also rinse to get rid of excess grease)

2 cans of corn, drained 

2 cans of beans - I use chili beans but you can use pinto, black or kidney beans.
(Whatever kind your family likes is fine to use)

1 can chicken broth

2 cans tomatoes - I use crushed tomatoes with green chiles or Rotel 

1 package dry Ranch dressing mix

1 package taco seasoning mix

In a Dutch oven or my go to Crock Pot, place browned meat, Ranch mix, Taco seasoning and   broth.
Combine and simmer for 20 minutes, just to incorporate the flavors.
Then add your remaining ingredients, stir thoroughly and cook 4 hrs on high heat (or 8 hrs on low/medium) in Crock Pot or in the Dutch oven until beans are tender. I think it tastes better the
longer it cooks, so it is ideal to start it first thing, play in the snow all day and come
 in to warm up with a yummy bowl of soup.   Serve it with taco chips, tortillas, shredded
cheese, sour cream or jalapeños... Get as creative as you like. I think that is why
this is so yummy, you can add whatever you like and it just gets better.

#LovemyCrockPot

Here is hoping we all enjoy a snowy Saturday or two this winter and are blessed to be able to spend it warming up our family with a hearty bowl of delish soup.

Have you tried this soup before?  What do you add to make yours special?  We would love to hear from you ~ 

                                             xoxo,

                                        Amy

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