Chicken Taco Chili

This is a simple, easy, yummy crock pot dinner.

There really isn't any steps to show you. Basically you add them all to the crock pot and let it go! :)

Ingredients:

*1 onion, chopped
*1 16 oz can, rinsed black beans
*1 16 oz can, rinsed kidney beans
*8-10 oz tomato sauce
*1 package frozen corn kernels
*2 14.5 cans diced tomatoes with chilies
*1 packet taco seasoning
*1/2 tbsp cumin
*1 tbsp chilli powder
*Chicken breast (I just used one, but for every two people add another, so for 2 people one should be fine, for 4 people, add another chicken breast, or add 2 if you want a lot of chicken)
*Optional Toppings, Chopped Cilantro, Cheese, Sour Cream etc.

Combine onion, beans, tomato sauce, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning and spices in crock pot. Once combines set chicken on top. I also sprinkled the chicken with a little pepper and chilli powder.




Cook on high for 5-6 hours, or on low for about 10 hours. Every crock pot is different, mine cooks fast, so if something says 6 hours, mine might only take 4-5. So just keep an eye on it. Once its done cooking, shred chicken and add it back to the crock pot and combine.

Taste the chilli and add salt if needed. Serve, and top with desired toppings! Enjoy!

Lately- School, Books, and Crafts

So lately my life has consisted of school, reading, and painting our downstairs room.

So I'll start with that. We are making a room we weren't using downstairs into a craft room for me. I can't WAIT. It's painted, its just in the process of getting set up right now. My Grandmother used to use it as her craft room also, but since shes been gone, its kind of been used as a storage room. Last summer when my parents bought a new house they took pretty much everything out of there since they had the space for the items, and I was left with an empty room. I have been making a lot of little crafts lately, so I figured I would make use of the room and have it be a room specifically for crafts! Its coming along quite nicely. I would LOVE to have a super nice vintage craft room, but that will have to come little by little over time.

I have been reading quite a bit lately also. Reading Water for Elephants a couple weeks ago really sparked my love for reading again. Since then I have read:

Mockingjay

Mockingjay is the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I really enjoyed this book, minus a few things. For one, I really wanted to fast forward all the "war" parts. I found myself really only caring about the love triangle. I could care less about the rest. Without spoilers, all I will say is I am completely 100% happy with the end and who she ended up with. Its exactly what I wanted, and I definitely shed a tear at the end. :)

Linger

The second book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I love these books so much. I think its mostly for Sam. But its one of the very few books where I didn't find the main girl to be annoying hardly at all. Which is rare for me. I love love love this book goes back and forth between characters also. And most of all I just love and adore Sam. Plain and simple. I think I mostly read the book for him. I can't wait to see how it ends.

Where She Went

This is the sequel to the book, If I Stay, which I LOVED. I really enjoyed this book as well and I read it very fast, BUT, I found myself getting tired of hearing about Adam's music career. I felt like I was reading a book simply about his band some of the time. Overall, I did really enjoy the book, and am very happy with how it turned out.

And now I am reading, Dead Reckoning

I am almost half way through this book right now. This is one of my favorite series. Not to mention True Blood is one of my all time favorite shows. I am most excited about the upcoming fourth season because the fourth book was my favorite book so far out of the series.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

So this is a recipe for Sloppy Joe's that is so yummy and so easy to make. I don't remember where I got the recipe, but I've been making it for a few years. Here's what you need:

*1 pound ground beef
*1/3ish cup chopped onions
*1/3ish cup chopped green bell pepper
*1 teaspoon yellow mustard
*1/4 cup ketchup
*1/2 cup BBQ sauce
*2 cloves minced garlic (optional, I'm a garlic nut, so I put it in everything)
*1 teaspoon granulated garlic
*3 tablespoons brown sugar
*Hamburger Buns (this makes about 4 sloppy joes)



Chop your veggies.

In a large pan, brown your meat and veggies.



Half way through your cooking, add your garlic.



Drain fat, and add the rest of the ingredients.



Combine well, and simmer for 30 minutes.



Then add a little Kenny Chesney...just kidding ;) But I love to listen to pandora while I cook...



Before serving I like to toast up the bread a bit, I put a little butter on the bread along with a little granulated garlic, it makes it so much yummier, trust me :)



I served mine with baked sweet potato and corn on the cob that night. That's why you see those in the main picture, I just didn't take a picture of the whole plate all served up. Also, you could totally change it up and make it with ground turkey instead of meat. :)




Enjoy!