7 Can Soup Recipe

Here is a super easy soup recipe, and requires 7 cans of soup and tomatoes, and a few other ingredients. It tastes amazing! 

INGREDIENTS

- 2 - 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes

- 1 - 15 oz. can black beans

- 1 - 15 oz. can pinto beans

- 1 - 15 oz. can garbanzo beans (I used half the can in this recipe)

- 1 - 15 oz. can corn

- 1 - 15 oz. can sweet peas

- 1 or 2 - 32 oz. containers of beef broth - depends on how much broth you like in your soup.

- 1/2 Lb. bacon

- 1 medium yellow onion

1 Lb. ground beef

- 3 Tablespoons olive oil, salt and seasoning to taste.

- sour cream and finely shredded cheese to top soup.  

INSTRUCTIONS

1.) In a large soup pot, begin to heat oil. Add chopped onions, bacon, ground beef, and salt/seasoning. Open and drain cans EXCEPT FOR TOMATOES - while you are waiting. Stir often. 

2.) Once beef has browned, add in all 7 cans, and broth, and stir. everything together and add more seasoning. Taste as you go! 

3.) Let simmer for about 30 minutes, and you're ready to serve! The house smelled amazing because of this soup! 

4.) Serve with a dollop of sour cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Crackers would also be good! 

Happy November! Let's Eat Squash!

We finally got all of the ingredients together to make this hearty meal last night, and it was pretty good! I even made a Flipagram for you to watch and see how pretty these turn out!

I was so happy to find Organic Acorn Squash at Kroger! 

They're really quite pretty when you cut them open! Scoop out all of the seeds and inside bits!

View on Flipagram

Scoop out the insides, cover with oil and salt, and bake at 4000 Degrees for 40 mins. Then, prepare to make the filling!

Below, we covered the acorn squash with olive oil and salt, and baked them for 40 minutes at 400 Degrees.

For the filling, we used about 1/2 Lb/ ground pork (but could have easily used ground beed or turkey), 1/2 a red onion, 3 stalks of celery, salt and seasonings, 1/2 C. breadcrumbs, and 1/2 C. Parmesan cheese. 

Now, cook the onions, celery, and ground beef in a little bit of olive oil, and season for extra flavor. Below, you will see the filling after the meat has browned. Photo on the left is after we added the breadcrumbs and the parmesan! Yum!

Now, put that filling into the squash you just took out of the oven! Bake for 20 more minutes...

And you're ready to eat!!! YUM!!!

Ooey Gooey Marshmallow Cones

Bonfire season is in full swing! I have a yummy treat that just about anyone will enjoy! You can either make these over a campfire, or even in your oven at home, suer easily. This recipe was featured on the Missouri Department of Tourism Blog! So honored to collaborate with them!

INGREDIENTS:

Hershey's Candy Bars (roughly 1 candy bar per cone or a bit less)

Mini Marshmallows

Waffle Cones (store bought works perfectly)

Foil 

CHECK OUT MY MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM PORTFOLIO HERE.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Break the Hershey's Bar into pieces, and set aside. 

2.) Take one cone in your hand, and fill the bottom 1/3 with mini marshmallows. Add a couple of pieces of chocolate, then more marshmallows. Once you get towards the top, fill the rest of the way with marshmallows, then put a few more pieces of chocolate on top. 

3.) TO HEAT: Wrap the whole cone (and luscious filling) in a couple of layers of foil. Place near campfire (not directly on the flame - you're just trying to melt the filling.), for about 8-10 minutes, being extremely careful to remove from the embers/coals. Once cooled a bit, unwrap the foil and behold the most wonderful thing you can eat while you're camping!

- If you want to easily make these in the oven, fill the cones with marshmallows and chocolate as described above, and wrap in foil. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees, place each foil-wrapped cone in a heat-safe coffee mug (ceramic go glass only). Make sure the pointy end of the cone is facing downward into the mug. Bake for about 7 minutes, carefully remove from the oven, and once cooled, unwrap foil to see if everything has melted enough. Enjoy!!!

Lavender Lemonade - Bacardi Inspired

One of the coolest projects I have ever done is working with Bacardi to show my readers how to create summer party-ready drinks with two of their flavors - Limon and Tangerine (a new one). 

I was asked to pretty much create whatever I wanted, and below you will see some of the goodness I thought up.

Actually, the main reason I thought this recipe would be great, is that the VRBO house we stayed in while we were in the Tahoe are a couple of weeks ago had some wild lavender growing nearby. I technically borrowed some clippings from the neighbor's yard, and WOW, did it smell incredible! The other wildflowers in the photos were also sourced from the neighbors, and I will tell you, I didn't even make a dent in their landscaping :) 

I made a simple syrup with the lavender, some sugar, and water. This way the lavender infused properly into the drink. But, I actually added it into some pretty glasses with Simply Lemonade and a shot of Bacardi. Below, you will find the recipe if you want to make it from scratch, with real lemons. 

LAVENDER LEMONADE VIA SIMPLYRECIPES.COM

The sugar/lemon balance will depend on what types of lemons you are using (Meyer lemons are less tart than regular lemons), and your own preference for sweetness. While all varieties of lavender are edible, English lavender and Provence lavender are most often used for culinary purposes. If you use fresh, garden flowers, make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides. Do not use florist flowers.

Ingredients

• A small handful of freshly picked and rinsed lavender flowers or a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
• 1 cup white, granulated sugar
• 2 cups of boiling water for the infusion
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups or more of cold water
• Ice

Method

1 Cut the lavender flowers from the stems (no need to strip) and place in a medium bowl (a large pyrex measuring bowl works great because you can pour easily from it). Pour the sugar over the flowers and use your (clean) fingers to gently rub the flowers into the sugar.

2 Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the lavender sugar and stir with a spoon until the sugar has melted. Cover and let infuse for 30 minutes (or up to several hours).

3 Strain the lavender-infused simple syrup and pour into a serving carafe or pitcher.

4 Stir in the lemon juice.  Add another two cups of water. Taste and adjust for tartness. Add more lemon juice if too sweet.  Add more sugar if too tart. Add ice and more water to desired level of concentration. Note that the ice will melt eventually, further diluting the drink.

Add some thinly sliced lemons and a few lavender sprigs to the serving pitcher for presentation.

How To Make Blooming Candies

I had so much fun creating this project! I was inspired by summer, and all the pretty flowers that are blooming right now! For this recipe, I used silicone brownie molds, so I could fill them with tons of candy. I also used Blue and Vibrant Green Candy Melts. My filler candies were Sixlets, found here. See the list of ingredients below...and have FUN! You can make these in just about any color combo, for special events, holidays, and sporting events. 

HERE'S HOW YOU MAKE THEM...

You only need a few simple ingredients! Some Sixlets Candies, candy melts, and a candy mould.  

INGREDIENTS (Click Names To Buy)

Vibrant Green Candy Melts - Blue Candy Melts - Filler Candies - Wilton Paintbrushes, Candy/Brownie Molds

1.) Melt your candy melts in 2 separate containers, either in the microwave or in a double boiler method, which I did. I found that using a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup, which held one package of candy melts worked great! Fill a small saucepan with 2-3 inches of water, and pour your melts into the measuring cup. Insert cup into water, heat water over medium of high heat and stir melts frequently until smooth. (See photo below for tips)...

Texture Test (above) - The blue one looks right, but NOT the green one! If your melts form more of a paste than a smooth and satiny texture, try again. 

MY BIGGEST TIP WOULD BE...USE A PAINTBRUSH!!!

2.) Using a paintbrush to spread the candy molds was a priceless tip! The brush gives you way more control than a knife or spoon. This step took a while, but was definitely fun. I searched around just about every craft store for these brushes, and finally found them at JoAnns! I originally searched for cheap kids' paintbrushes, and found nothing. Luckily I persisted :) 

3.) See how I spread the blue candy melts into the molds with a paintbrush, and am about to spread the green candies next. I added about double this amount (that you see in green) to fill the mold at first. After you fill the molds, pop the candies into the freezer for about 5 minutes. 

4.) Now, fill the candy shells with Candies, almost to the very top. 

5.) Add a dollop of candy melts on top of your fillers candies, and use the paintbrush to smooth the dollop out, and to create a seal, so the candies stay inside the melts. Throw them back into the freezer, and wait about 30 minutes (or longer), so that everything hardens and seals. 

These are so cute!!!

6.) Here is what it looked like after I smoothed the last part of the candy melts over the molds, to close in the Sixlets. Use your brush to make a pretty swirl pattern on the candies if you wish. 

7.) Here is what your (almost finished) candies will look like after being in the freezer overnight. You don't have to leave them in this long (2 hours will do), but after all the work I did on this project, I was more than happy to leave these babies in the freezer overnight, and enjoy them the next day :)

8.) Using a pair of rubber or cotton gloves, carefully peel the mold away from your Blooming Candies. The gloves help prevent finger prints all over your candies. Aren't they adorable? The next photo shows how you open them...

Now you can reveal your surprise candy inside! Just use a sharp kitchen knife, and (very carefully), cut into the candy as if you are cutting a slice of cake. 

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Fun Berry Recipes - Food and Drink Ideas

The berries have been abundant this year, and I am so inspired by all of these amazing recipes I found that shows you how to incorporate berries into just about anything! From water or spirits, to sorbets, cakes, and other desserts, berries will make your tastebuds happy all summer long! Click the images to learn more about any of these recipes below, and enjoy! 

Blackberry and Sage Infused Water by Evermine

Blueberry Slab Pie 

Blackberry Lemon Cake 

Blackberry Basil Whiskey Smash

Honey, Stone Fruit, and Blackberry Tartlette 

Raspberry Lemonade 

Blueberry Cobbler

Blueberry Infused Vodka 

Blueberry - Pecan Galette 

Raspberry Sorbet 

Flourless Chocolate Almond Cake with Berries On Top 

Raspberry Dessert 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are inspired to create something tasty with berries today!

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AZ Sunshine Lemonade

Earlier this year, we visited my parents in Cave Creek, AZ. It was a great time of year to visit, as the days were only mildly HOT and the nights were somewhat cool enough to wear lightweight pants or a long sleeve tee. The other great thing about being there in early Spring, was that their lemon tree was in full production mode, and even had a few blossoms still on it. I wish we could have taken home boxes of their organic lemons, so we could enjoy them at home, but they really only stay good for a few days after they are picked. So, we made as much lemonade as we could handle until our teeth hurt! We had a pitcher a day addiction going on!

INREDIENTS:

1 Part Lemon Juice (We used about 7-8 lemons for this)

3-4 Parts Water

1 Part Sugar (You can make a simple syrup at first if you want, although we didn't)

HOW TO:

We picked 7-8 lemons straight off the tree, cut them in half, and used an electric juicer to get as much juice out of them as we could. We then added the lemon juice to a pitcher, added the water, and sugar, and stirred. If you wind up making a simple syrup first, this is supposed to reduce the sugar from sinking to the bottom. Taste a bit to see if it is sweet or tart enough for your liking. Fill your glasses with ice, and pour the AZ Sunshine Lemonade on top! Enjoy!

I never grew up around fruit trees, and I love them! They do attract lots of bees, because of the little lemon blooms, but my step-mom made us a fresh batch of lemonade almost every day we were there! She has an electric juicer, which really does make things much easier for this whole process. Since we drank her super fresh lemonade, nothing from a bottle has tasted anywhere near as good. It all seems so bland, not tart, and loaded with more sugar than humanly possible. 

I like my lemonade a little bit sweet, and a little bit tart. Feel free to add more sugar if this is way too tart, but I do hope you enjoy the way we make our fresh squeezed AZ Lemonade! 

My little girls always helps me with my photos, poolside preferred! 

Farm To Table // A New Market in Carbondale, IL

Last week, Carbondale saw the start of a new Farmer's Market! It's super close to our house, and it is organized by one of my friends, Courtney Smith. This market is super convenient because it runs from 4-7 pm on Wednesdays, which is right before I would be making dinner. We ate all of the veggies right after I got home from my market visit, and had an amazing vegetarian dinner of mashed potatoes, green beans, and raw carrots for the appetizer! The reason I named this post Farm To Table is because I spoke with a couple, from Homer Grown, who were vending at the market. They grew most of the vegetables pictured below, and they seemed so incredibly passionate about what they do. They knew so much about each and every vegetable and bean picked, and would even grow you something you request! 

These organic carrots were so good! 

We chopped off the ends of these green beans, and then fried them in 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil, some chopped red onions, and one piece of bacon we had baked the day before for Bloody Mary's :) I didn't get a great photo of the potatoes, but we chopped up the red potatoes and white potatoes and boiled them with a little bit of salt and onion. After they were soft, I strained them, and added a splash of milk, more salt, and some butter. Just taste as you go, and see what you think tastes best. They were amazing with the beans! Beans (above) and Red Onions (below) from Homer Grown.

I also found myself some beautiful flowers from Flora Bay Farm. They're also from my friend Courtney, and she is great with floral arrangements. It's so fun to see what she grows each season, and I will definitely be making this new Farmer's Market a weekly thing! 

And, some super fresh BASIL! What a beautiful smell :)

Catnip by Flora Bay Farms

My Free People Reusable Shopping Bag and my market finds

Garlic Scapes by Flora Bay Farm

Isn't this the cutest Farmer's Market Stand you've ever seen? They built it and are proud that it helps identify the market to people who pass by and hope it makes them want to stop. Homer Grown has some of the best veggies around! 

If you're in southern Illinois, please visit the newest Farmer's Market in Carbondale!! 

Healthy Jar Salad Recipe - Black Beans & Greens With Creamy Chipotle Dressing

I have been helping to promote the Mira Fitness Tracker Bracelet on Pinterest recently, which is a really cool product. It's a more  and I found this awesome recipe on their blog. I decided to create a graphic explaining the tasty recipe, and you can find it on Pinterest here. I love creating graphics for these brands! If you need some cute graphics made, just let me know! 

Below, you can see the Mira Fitness Tracker Bracelet - it's much cuter than the traditional FitBits. 

Super Easy 2-Ingredient Ice Box Cake

Yum! This no-bake cake turned out so well! My grandma used to make this for me every time I visited. She didn't cook or bake very often, but I remember when she made this, and her famous meatballs, and they were both some of my favorites EVER! 

I always loved it and finally made some myself. This cake is great to make on a warmer day, because you don't even have to turn on the oven. It only requires 2 ingredients, Chocolate Wafers, and Cool Whip, so that's an added bonus as well! Check out my food blog, Bisque This! for this recipe and lots more! 

It's super simple! Grab a loaf tin and your 2 simple ingredients. First, spread 2-3 Tbsp of Cool Whip on the bottom of the tin evenly. Then, add a layer of chocolate wafers. They fit perfectly with 2 across. At the short side of the tin, a whole cookie wouldn't fit, so I added some cookies that were already broken in half.

Keep layering the Cool Whip and Chocolate Wafers until you are out of ingredients. I liked when the layers of Cool Whip were thicker, but whatever you wind up doing will be great! I also crushed up some of the broken cookies (in my fingers) and lightly sprinkled them on top of the cake for a bit of added cuteness! 

Pop the "cake" into the fridge or freezer, and let it combine over night. Voila! You have an incredibly easy, no-bake Cookies and Cream Ice Box Cake! I initially let this sit in the fridge overnight, but froze it to take photos of it. I tried it both ways, and liked it frozen a lot better. 

Tater Tot Horseshoe Sandwiches

Horseshoe Sandwiches originated in my hometown, Springfield, IL. They're awesome - It's like a burger and fries, topped in homemade cheese sauce. Click Here for the full recipe on Bisque This! 

Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Rings

I have a real treat for you! The perfect mid-afternoon snack to eat on a snowy Sunday... Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Rings! They taste super good and are actually fun to create. It took a little bit of time, but they were easy none the less. 

WHAT YOU NEED:

* 4 - 5 Pineapple Rings (We bought a fresh pineapple that was packaged near the fruit coolers, and cut them into super thick slices). A Can of pineapple also works. 

* 10 slices (1 Package) of Thinly Sliced Bacon (I like Applegate Organic)

* Toothpicks or short skewer sticks.

* Metal Baking Rack - place into baking dish

*Shallow 9x13 Baking Dish

INSTRUCTIONS:

* Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Open the package of bacon, and prepare/cut/or drain your pineapples. Set out a decent amount of toothpicks into a shallow dish so they are easy to use.

*To construct: Set one pineapple ring onto a cutting board or clean surface. Take the first slice of bacon, begin to wrap it around the pineapple, and continue with 1-2 more pieces of bacon per ring. Secure with toothpicks. Now, place each Bacon Pineapple Ring onto the Baking Rack.

* Bake for 15-20 minutes, on the top rack of the oven. You may need up to ten minutes more, depending on your oven. Make sure you do not burn them, and enjoy!

Bisque This!

I have been working on a little side project, a food blog called Bisque This! Stop on over to learn about all sorts of fun recipes + restaurant reviews! 

Raspberry Gin and Tonic Recipe With Berry-Infused Ice Cubes!

If you love a Gin and Tonic, this recipe is just for you! This drink is light, refreshing, and really goes down smoothly! This Gin and Tonic has a hint of lime, strawberry, and raspberry. And, these would be perfect for Valentine's Day or Date Night! For the ice cubes, in a heart-shaped silicone mold, I filled them up half way with frozen raspberries and chopped up frozen strawberries, then filled the rest of the way with regular water. They're so cute! 

RASPBERRY GIN AND TONIC RECIPE

Ingredients for 2 Drinks:

Begin by making your fruit-infused ice cubes, as instructed above. Once the ice is frozen, mix 4 oz Gin and 10 oz tonic water into a glass. Add about 1/2 tbsp of sugar if these are too tart for you. Feel free to also squeeze some lime juice into the glass, to cover up the gin taste a bit more :) Add the ice cubes (after the gin and tonic water so they retain their shape better), and top with a lime wedge.  The ice cubes quickly began to make the drinks a bit pink, which I love! These are so refreshing and I hope you LOVE them!!! 

A LOVEly Life

One of my favorite seasonal boards is A LOVEly Life. I love Valentine's Day, and all of the fun imagery, crafts, recipes, and DIYs surrounding it. Here are a few LOVEly items for you to see! 

Heart Bikini - Heart Cupcakes by Hello Naomi - Red Date Night Dresses - Kiss Kiss Gift Wrap DIY by Sugar and Cloth - Kiss Kiss Sweater - Red Heels - Fortune Cookies by Sugar For The Brain