Fall Is Here!!

Woo Hoo!! We're finally coming into some cool fall weather. The leaves are starting to change and fall off the trees. This is my favorite time of year!!

Tomorrow, Emily has a choir concert up at the high school. For dinner, I'll be putting on the crock pot full of Taco Soup which will be all nice and hot by the time we get home!!! Ooooh, I almost can't wait!! My friend, Karen, introduced me to this soup and its become a quick favorite of ours! I almost prefer it to chili. The recipe is as follows:

TACO SOUP

1 pound ground beef; browned and drained
1 envelope taco seasoning
1-1/2 cups water
1 can (15-3/4 ounces) black beans, drained

1 can (15-3/4 ounces) kidney beans, drained
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

Combine everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Top each bowl with grated cheese and sour cream if desired and serve with Fritos or Torilla chips.

Fall Arrangements

When I received this hutch, one of the things I knew I wanted to do with it was to decorate it seasonally. However, I have been in a serious creative slump!

The other day, my mom and I were browsing through a home decor/gift shop that is gorgeously decorated. Of course, everything in there is pretty pricey but we did come out of there with lots of ideas. So motivated by this rush of inspiration, I sent Emily into the

attic to find the box of "Fall Stuff." I had so much fun arranging and re-arraging my shelves and I'm quite pleased with the results. Now all we need is a good shot of cold air again!!

Recipe

Sour Cream Apple Pie

1 c. sour cream

1 c. sugar

3 T. flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

4 c. apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1 (9-in.) unbaked pie crust

Beat together sour cream, sugar, flour salt, vanilla, and egg. Add apples. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

*Meanwhile, mix together 1/2 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. flour and 1/4 c. butter. Sprinkle on top and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

I wasn't sure how to tell it was done so I baked it the full 40 minutes. The pie will be a bit jiggly when you take it out but it firms up as it cools.

Enjoy!!

A New (Old) Pie

Another bushel basket of apples from my mom's apple tree sat on my counter waiting to be used. I made another batch of applesauce and as I'm peeling and coring apples, Cliff said, "Boy, I'd like some more apple pie!"

I decided to go with a Dutch Apple pie this time around. Fall is definately in the air and the thought of cinnamon and apples wafting through the air appealed to me. I began a search for a Dutch Apple Pie recipe, found a couple and turned to the last little recipe book in my kitchen. Actually, this little book is Amy's. It's called, "Grandma's Favorite Recipes" and it was a gift to her from my mom. As I was browsing for the pie recipe, I came across another recipe for Sour Cream Apple Pie. I had all the ingredients on hand so I decided to give it a try.

I can't even begin to tell you how delicious this pie was! It tastes like the apple dip you make with cream cheese and brown sugar, and a carmel apple all mixed up in a pie. Simply delicious!! Both Cliff and I raved all night about that delicious pie!! In fact, I may have to go do some more apple picking to make another one (or two!!)

Housekeeping

You know, I actually enjoy housework. I do, I really do enjoy cleaning my house. I do NOT, however, like picking up items others have left behind so I can get to the actual cleaning!

One chore I find rather relaxing is doing dishes. I do not have a dishwasher so everything gets washed the old-fashioned way. Standing there with my hands in warm, sudsy water has sort of a calming effect on me and I feel like I have really accomplished something when I leave a nice clean kitchen. I also like doing laundry.
I just love the smell of clean clothes and I kind of like folding.

Two chores that aren't my favorite? Making beds. I constantly work at making my bed a habit. I love getting into a well-made bed so I try to use that as motivation. My other least favorite? Cleaning the oven and fridge.

So what about you? What are your favorites and least favorites??

These Economic Times

We have absolutely been flooded with economic news and forcasts. To be honest, I'm not at all surprised because at some point, it seems to me that all this debt has to catch up with us. I'm not a financial expert nor would I ever claim to be but it seems to me that at the bottom line of this most recent "economic crisis" is debt. People making purchases on credit with payments they cannot afford to pay. At some point, something has to give. Personally, I was not in favor of the "bailout" plan especially when details come to light of all the various legislations attached to it. Sometimes in these kinds of situations, I wonder, "what can I do?" I cannot change the economy, Wall Street or Washington. What I can change, however, is myself.

This month, I decided to get serious about our family budget again. We have to! I've looked for more corners to cut...trying to shave here and there and get ourselves in a better financial position.

A Thought on Patriotism

I believe in America. I believe it became great because of its faith in God, its hope for independence and its love for freedom. I am grateful for America's glorious past: I am awed by its unbelievable present; I am confident of its limitless future. I am not ashamed to take my hat off and to stand at attention when Old Glory passes by. I do not apologize for the lump in my throat when I repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. I am not embarrassed by the tears in my eyes when I hear "The Star Spangled Banner." Like millions of Americans, I want a free choice, not a free handout. I prefer an opportunity to prove my abilities on the job rather than a license to demonstrate my frustrations in the street. I am an old-fashioned American with a new-found determination to do my part to make Democracy work. -William Arthur Ward