Easy Crockpot Chili

Before leaving to work, one day last week, I threw together a quick crockpot chili. It was pretty easy and I recommend this as a go-to meal. It is very simple to make adjustments to the recipe based on your family’s preferences and I suggest using your favorite veggies as added substance.  If your kid is picky it is also a good way to trick them into eating some new veggies, everything tastes the same when it’s been cooking all day! 

Baby T really enjoyed the chili, especially the beans and the mess she made eating. Good thing I got her naked first, it saved an outfit, literally, as the mess was not even simple to wash off of her skin!  

Here is how I made the chili –

1lb chopped meat - browned

1 large onion – diced

1 yellow pepper – diced

1 can of kidney bean – 15oz drained

1 can of small red beans -15oz drained

1 can of tomato paste – 12oz

1 can of crushed tomatoes – 14oz

1 large can of diced tomatoes – 28oz

2 tbsp of crushed garlic

2 tbsp of brown sugar

1 packet of Ortega taco seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

The night before I browned the chopped meat and chopped the veggies, because if you are making a crockpot meal to begin with, it means there just isn’t enough time in your day!

The next morning, I threw all of the ingredients in the crockpot and cooked it on low – for a long time. The chili would be good in as little as 6 hours, but unfortunately my work day is longer than that**.  I usually leave it in the crockpot on low from 8am-6pm but this past week my husband didn’t get home from work until after 9:30pm and it was still good!   

The finished product! MMmmmm... 

**As a side note – here is a short vent about crockpot recipes on Pintrest. What good is a crockpot recipe to me that cooks between 4-6hours? I am out of the house for 9 hours a day. Please start to post recipes that fit into my schedule because I would totally make some of them!! In the meantime I will be experimenting and sharing what works…  

The perfect fall Sunday: Apple Picking in New Jersey

This past Sunday we loaded up four cars full of adults and little people and headed out to go apple picking in East Brunswick, NJ. One of my cousins frequents this cute little farm and recommended we give it a try. The farm is called Giamarese Farm, and now, I too highly recommend you find time to go with your family, extended family and some friends.

The farm is smaller than other orchards I have been to in the past and is only open from 10-3 on Sundays, but the small size was perfect for the little ones and meant that the adults had a little less chasing to do and bit more time to horse around. We only spent 2.5 hours on the farm, but that was plenty. Baby T was a little cranky-clingy but still photographed like she was having a ball. Even though the sign said not to eat the apples we were a little naughty and each had one while picking. Baby T spent the entire time chewing the skin off and spitting it at anyone who came by. Next time we have to go peach picking, she actually swallows that fruit!

The apples and produce are on the pricier side, $2 a lb for apples and it adds up fassst, so I recommend limiting how many apples/pumpkins each kid can pick, but we all had a great time!

For a great Central NJ activity check out http://www.giamaresefarm.com/index.asp

 

 

Create your own coloring book pages

My daughter loves to color, well actually she loves to scribble. She displays her artistry in coloring books, on blank paper, with special crayons in the bathtub, or on our rug (which would be a real issue if I actually liked the one we have.) So, I thought I'd make her special coloring book pages featuring her favorite person in the world, her! She was not as thrilled as I expected, but her Aunt DeeDee LOVED the idea and colored the pages to perfection.

Finished Coloring Book Page

And this is how I did it...

  

Step 1. Pick out a picture and open it in Photoshop

Step 2. Duplicate the original layer - 

right click the background layer and click on the duplicate layer option

Step 3. Desaturate the photo

Image - Adjustments - Desaturate

The image will be converted to black and white

Step 4. Duplicate the desaturated layer 

Step 5. Invert the new layer

Image - Adjustments - Invert

Your image will now look Craaaazy

Step 6. Add a color dodge to your Craaaazy layer

Layers- scroll to color dodge

Your Image will now vanish - Ta Dah! Don't be scared, though, we'll get it back

Step 7. Add a Filter: Gaussian Blur

Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur

Your image is really starting to look like a coloring book page!

Step 8. Pick your favorite coloring book filter level

Using the Gaussian Filter Tool pick the best look for your page, here I chose 28 

Step 9. Flatten Your Image
Or you can call it a day here and just print your coloring book page

If you are a perfectionist - Flatten the Image

Step 10. If you are anal and the little dots bother you, use the eraser tool to clean up the image

All done and Colored in by Aunt DeeDee

And just for comparison: This is Baby T's artwork. 

Maybe she'll appreciate this more when she is older!