Tasty Tuesdays: Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Chili

I posted this recipe last fall, but it's back on the dinner plans for this week and I thought I would update it with a better photo in honor of Tasty Tuesdays. My hubby got on a huge chili kick last fall and really developed an wonderful recipe with all kinds of good stuff in it!! I think you should try it~it's amazing!!

Vince's Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Chili

1 lb. ground beef

1 pkg. of smoked sausage, sliced

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 medium white onions, chopped

3 jalapeno peppers, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsp. ground cumin

2 tbsp. chili powder

2 tbsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. thyme

salt and pepper, to taste

2 tbsp. maple syrup

2 tbsp. dijon mustard

1 cup apple juice

2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes

1 (14.5 oz.) can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 (14.5 oz.) can pinto beans, drained & rinsed

1 (14.5 oz.) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed

*****

In a Dutch oven combine the ground beef and the smoked sausage. Brown, drain, and set aside. In a separate skillet heat the oil, then add the onions, garlic, and peppers. Saute about 4 minutes, then add the cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Next add in the maple syrup and mustard. Mix well, then add to the meat mixture in the Dutch oven. Add in the tomatoes, beans, and apple juice and mix well. Let chili simmer for at least an hour. Serve with some sour cream and shredded cheese. (This tastes great made a day ahead and reheated).

The Making of an Egyptian Death Mask

We are learning all about the ancient world this year with Story of the World I and loving it! We've been learning a lot about Egypt, of course, which is completely fascinating. Most recently we have studied the New Kingdom of Egypt, which includes the story of King Tut. So we decided making an Egyptian death mask in the style of King Tut's would be a fun project. First since it was too cold at the time to paper mache in the garage (it probably would have frozen instead of dried-ha) and it was too messy to do it in the house, we decided to pick up a couple of cheap craft masks at Hobby Lobby. Next we cut out cardboard shapes to complete the shape of the death mask, attaching them with hot glue. Vince even put a little detail on the *beard* with the hot glue per The Princess' request. Then the kiddos started to paint them with this metallic gold tempera paint. It worked okay for the cardboard, but would not coat the plastic of the mask. We thought maybe a second coat ...

Door Hanger Chore Charts

My kids have had a chore chart for a while. It's one of those magnetic boards and they share it. However, it's not by their rooms and often they (and I) forget to update it. Plus it's a little bulky. When I saw the concept of a door hanger chore chart on Pinterest, I loved it! It was compact, right there were the kiddos could see it coming out and going into their rooms, and it costs almost nothing to make. I headed over to one of my favorite stores: Hobby Lobby, of course. They have these little wooden door hangers for .79. I also grabbed a couple of packets of decorative buttons for $1.99 each. I already had the clothes pins and the paint so those cost me nothing. I began by painting the door hangers (I used tempera paints because that's what I had). Then I grabbed a fine point Sharpie and the clothes pins and started writing chores on them, making sure to write them correctly so they will ...

One Way I Refresh During the Summer as a Homeschool Mom

As our homeschool takes some time off this summer, my mind almost never stops thinking of and planning ahead for the upcoming school year. This is probably because I'm Type A and an obsessive planner...lol Whatever the reason, I do enjoy this season of planning. But I also need to be refreshed as a homeschool mom. Homeschooling can be incredibly exhausting and all-consuming. It's not easy and it's a lot of responsibility. And I take that very seriously when I am researching curriculum and planning toward the next school year. So also taking some time to rejuvenate and refocus myself is very important. How do I do this? Each summer I take some time to read something inspiring and motivating that speaks to me as a homeschool mom. Some of my fave reads from past years--that I have nearby on my shelf and refer to often--are Educating the Wholehearted Child, The Well-Trained Mind, The Charlotte Mason Companion, A T...

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