Santa might be on his way !?!?!?

We put some lights on the house today.  The grand children are coming to visit, so we needed to assure ourselves that Santa can find it.

Do you think he can see it as he ventures out in a couple days?

Game Day Chili

It's forecast to snow tomorrow, so we are planning to make chili !!!

 

Our favorite recipe dates back to a 2000 Southern Living article.

 

Ingredients:

 

2 lbs ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
3 -4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans or 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (12 ounce) bottle dark beer
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can beef broth
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (4 1/2 ounce) can chopped green chilies
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 -2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon hot sauce

Garnish

pickled jalapeno pepper, slices

Directions:

1.
Cook first 3 ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain well.
2.
Combine meat mixture, beans, and next 11 ingredients in Dutch oven (I usually start off with half the beef broth and beer, and add more as needed); bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 hours or until thickened. Garnish, if desired.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/game-day-chili-430829?oc=linkback

Decorating at home for Christmas

Our lengthy Thanksgiving break in Maui, and needing to build some inventory for Christmas sells when we returned, has pushed back decorating our home.  It was 14 degrees today, along with wind and lite snow, so ....... we worked on the home.

First was the rec room table.   For fall, we have candles, etc.

 Now, we made the serving piece look "allot more like Christmas"

We thought that Chevron print is a new decor highlight, so we decided to remove the burlap table runner, and make a new one to fit the occasion.

Yes.  It's getting to look "allot more like Christmas"

Back in the shop creating new items

Well ..... We are back from paradise, with our batteries recharged, and ready to work.  Maui is a special place for our family.  Great beaches, wonderful pools and food at the Marriott, and (of course) the views are beyond compare.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving break that will bring back memories for us for years to come.