Chili

3 cups pinto beans

2 onions chopped

1 can green chili (optional)

1 reg can diced tomatoes

1 Tbs minced garlic

1 can kidney beans

1/4 cup + 1 TBS Sam's Club brand chili powder

1 TBS ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder

6 oz tomato paste

1-2 8 oz cans tomato sauce

2 TBS sugar

1 tsp salt

1 TBS Beef-flavored base dissolved in a little water

1/4-1/2 tsp cheyenne pepper

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 tsp oregano leaves

1 TBS corn meal—add last hour

add water to desired thickness

Add dry beans and seven cups of water to the crockpot. Turn crockpot on high. When the beans are soft, add the other ingredients (you may need to take some water out and add it back to get the right consistency).

Lizzy & Jon's smoothie recipe (very healthy!)

Here is mine and Jon's smoothie recipe for anyone that wants to try it. It's awesome!

So here is what we do:

You will need:

Orange Juice

Frozen strawberries

2 bananas (preferably cut up in 8 pieces each, and frozen)

2 cups of spinach or Kale

A can of pineapple (get the cubed kind)

Flax see oil

Vanilla or Plain yogurt

So here is what you do:

Put a cup of Orange Juice in the blender.

Tightly pack 2 cups of spinach or kale, and then make sure you rinse it. We started out using spinach, but we've recently switched to Kale. Sometimes we put some of both in. 

Turn on the blender, and slowly add the greens. Let it blend for a bit so that everything turns into liquid.

Add half of the can on pineapple. Make sure you get half the juices, and half the fruit.

Let it blend for a bit.

Add 2 bananas. I like mine frozen because it keeps the smoothie nice and cold. But it works fine with unfrozen as well. Make sure the bananas are perfectly ripe. Too ripe makes it really sweet, and if it isn't ripe yet then the texture can be funny. This is also why I like to freeze them. Freeze them when it is the perfect ripeness. If you have them frozen, then you'll need 16 pieces of banana.

Let it blend for a bit.

Add 8 frozen strawberries.

Put in 2 spoonfuls of yogurt

Put in 1 teaspoon of flax seed oil

Let it blend, and then enjoy!

We like to have it in the morning. It really keeps you full for a long time. We make it the night before so that we don't have to deal with it in the morning. This makes enough for two people.

I hope you like it!

Lizzy

Dinner Rolls

DINNER ROLLS ~ FROM JANICE HAMMACK

MIX & SET:

2 TBS YEAST + 1 TBS SUGAR + 1/2 CUP TEPID WATER

MIX:

3 CUPS MILK

1/2 CUP BUTTER

3/4 CUP SUGAR

1 TBS SALT

MICROWAVE FOR 5 MINUTES 

POUR MILK MIXTURE INTO MIXING BOWL AND ADD:

3 CUPS FLOUR

2 EGGS

YEAST MIXTURE

MIX UNTIL SMOOTH AND THEN ADD MORE ~ABOUT~ 6 MORE CUPS OF FLOUR (THAT MAKES ABOUT 9 CUPS TOTAL). DO NOT ADD TOO MUCH FLOUR TO TAKE AWAY SHINE. KNEED DOUGH 8-10 MIN.

COVER AND LET DOUGH RISE UNTIL DOUBLE ~ 45 MIN TO 1 HOUR.

SHAPE DOUGH INTO BALLS AND PLACE IN GREASED BAKING PAN, COVER AND LET RISE 45 MIN TO 1 HOUR.  BAKE IN PREHEATED 350 DGREE OVEN FOR 20-30 .

THIS RECIPE MAKES LOTS!  (CUT IN HALF FOR A 9X12 BATCH) 

Christmas Gift Exchange!

Here is this year's exchange:

2013

Bryan and Anna are gifting to Adam

Matt and Janice are gifting to Bryan and Anna

Megan is gifting to Matt and Janice

Caitlin and Dustin are gifting to Megan

Chad is gifting to Caitlin and Dustin

Adam is gifting to Chad

Please note: URGENT PLEA TO GIVE GIFTERS GIFT IDEAS!!! (This means you, Mom and Dad!)

Please also note: I have conveniently used Pinterest to create a list (see here). Feel free to follow my example, Mom and Dad!

Here are the next few years in case you want to really start planning:

2014

Bryan and Anna are gifting to Chad

Matt and Janice are gifting to Adam

Megan is gifting to Bryan and Anna

Caitlin and Dustin are gifting to Matt and Janice

Chad is gifting to Megan

Adam is gifting to Caitlin and Dustin

2015

Bryan and Anna are gifting to Caitlin and Dustin

Matt and Janice are gifting to Chad

Megan is gifting to Adam

Caitlin is gifting to Bryan and Anna

Chad is gifting to Matt and Janice

Adam is gifting to Megan

2016

Bryan and Anna are gifting to Megan

Matt and Janice are gifting to Caitlin and Dustin

Megan is gifting to Chad

Caitlin and Dustin are gifting to Adam

Chad is gifting to Bryan and Anna

Adam is gifting to Matt and Janice

Candied Polynesian Spare Ribs

2 lbs lean pork spare ribs

1/3 Cup soy sauce

1 Tbl. Ground ginger

1/4 Cup  Corn Starch

1/2 Cup Cider Vinegar

1 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Water

1 Tbl. Salt 

1/2 tsp. Dry Mustard

1 small piece ginger root about 1 inch

Cut spare ribs into 3-inch individual pieces.  Mix soy sauce, ground ginger, and cornstarch until smooth; brush mixture over spare ribs.  Place ribs on cookie sheet covered with tin foil.  Bake in preheated oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes to remove fat, drain.  Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Place browned ribs in the crock pot, and pour the mixture on top.  Slice the ginger root in to sticks and put it in the crock pot to cook as well.  Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours. If desired brown and crisp ribs in broiler for a few minutes before serving.  Makes 4 servings.  

Schwangers' Delicious Cole Slaw

The oft-requested recipe is now available to the general public!

2 cups Miracle Whip salad dressing

1/2 cup sugar 

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 

1 head cabbage 

1/8 teaspoon pepper 

2-3 medium carrots 

Combine sauce - then refrigerate at least 20 mins (longer the better)....
stir sauce very well before adding cabbage. 

Soft Sugar Cookies

Beat together:
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
Add and beat until smooth:
1 egg
Mix in:
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
Add:
½ cup milk (2% or whole)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add:
2 ½ cups (or more) flour

Work until soft but not sticky
Roll out and cut with cookie cutters.
Bake 375 deg. For 6 – 10 minutes (thicker cookies need 10-12 minutes)