Santa Fe Chowder

Mel M. has inspired me to get back into blogging. I added a link to her blog on the list of "Blogs I Visit". Here is a delicious recipe that I typed up for my Facebook page. It is perfect for rainy days like today. Enjoy!

Santa Fe Chowder

2 lbs. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 pkgs. taco seasoning mix
2 pkgs. ranch dressing mix
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans
1 (15 oz.) can black beans
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans
1 (15 oz.) can shoepeg corn
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz.) can Ro-Tel tomatoes
2 cups water

Brown ground beef and onion; place in a crock-pot. Stir in seasoning, dressing, beans, corn, tomatoes, and water, including juices. Cook on low all day or 1 hour on stove.

From the kitchen of Mel C.

It's been forever...

If anyone is still reading this blog, I apologize for not posting in months. Things haven't changed much here. We still have both houses up for sale or for rent, and even with 49 showings and counting, we haven't had any offers. Blech! This weekend Jeff heads to Texas for a week to visit his family, and I will spend the week in my condo. Woohoo! No commute! I will be in Jackson for the weekend for a friend's baby shower. Should be fun...

Tamale Pie

This is a favorite at our house.

Tamale Pie

1 package Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup salsa
1 cup cheddar cheese

Prepare Jiffy mix per package instructions. Spread a thin layer of the prepared Jiffy mix in the bottom of a greased 8x8 pan. Brown ground beef. Drain grease, and saute ground beef with onion & green pepper (a few minutes until onion and green pepper are cooked). Add salsa to beef mixture. Spread meat mixture on top of Jiffy mix and top with the remaining Jiffy mix. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.Top with cheese for the last few minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Double recipe for 9x13 pan.

Recipe from Leona Horn - Jeff's grandma.

Happy Spring!

My favorite flowers...

W.P.O.T.D. - The End!

All good things must come to end and so this will be the last W.P.O.T.D. I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures. It was fun for me to document the wedding day through the pictures. I will be back to regular blogging soon -- although probably not every day!

W.P.O.T.D. - Thank you!

Special thanks to Casey for videotaping our ceremony & reception, and to his wife Carmen for giving up her husband for most of the evening. :-) We asked Casey to tape the wedding festivities at the last minute, and he did a wonderful job! Thank you so much!

W.P.O.T.D. - Breaking traditions

Jeff and I didn't do the bouquet or garter toss because as a thirty-something single, I really REALLY disliked that tradition! :-) But if we had followed the tradition, it is clear to me that one of the following couples would have caught the bouquet and/or garter. Ken and Suzanne were married on November 2, 2007, and Will and Cady Ruth will be married on February 23, 2008. Best wishes and congratulations to you all!

Ken and Suzanne

Will and Cady Ruth