Things

Hi friends! I hope everyone is having a great week so far! Mine has been relatively uneventful...I'm definitely enjoying the cooler (80's) weather we've had. According to my trusty weather channel app, it will be back in the mid 90's for the rest of this week and next....BOOOO!

Anyway, I've been wanting a centerpiece that was a little more "fallish" for our dining room table which can be a little tricky to find for a pink and apple green kitchen. Well, I should have known my mom would be up for the challenge! Check out what she came up with...

I LOVE, LOVE it! The bowl is to die for.

And the little balls are SO cute!

You've done it again, Mom...thank you!!!

Also, remember our new furniture from a couple months ago? The new furniture that came with heinous pillows?? Well, I (with the help of my mom...OF COURSE!) finally found the perfect fabric to recover those ugly things with! And our accent chair is being slip-covered as well! I took it to be done on Monday, so it should be finished next week sometime I'm hoping! I can't wait to get it back, and I'll be sure to post pictures too! :)

Yesterday was a dreary day, so I was in the mood for something yummy and warm to fill my tummy. Nothing screams comfort (to me) like a big bowl of soup...or "stoup" as my girl Rachael Ray likes to say ;) For those of you who don't know, stoup is thinner than a stew and thicker than a soup...haha! So, here's the Taco Stoup that I made...

EASY Taco Stoup

1 lb ground turkey

1 small onion, diced

1 packet Ranch Dressing Seasoning

2 Tbs taco seasoning (I use THIS recipe...you could also just use a seasoning packet!)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)

2 cans of whatever beans you like...I use pinto & dark red kidney

1 can corn

1-2 cups whatever stock/broth you have on hand

Start by browning the turkey with the onions in a deep pot. If you substitute beef, be sure to drain the excess fat. Drain & rinse the beans. Drain the corn. Dump everything except the stock/broth into the pot...so easy! Once everything is in the pot, you'll be able to tell how much more liquid you need to add. You want the stoup to be thick but not as thick as a chili, so just add however much you need until you like the consistency...there's no exact science to it! Let the stoup cook together for about 20 minutes, covered, over medium heat.

I serve mine with grated cheese, avocado, sour cream, corn chips (in this instance, left over taco shells! haha) and a few squeezes of lime on top to "wake" things up! Can you tell I love toppings??

This recipe serves 4 adults.

Hints:

-If you need to feed more people, just throw in another can of beans! I like to add black beans too...just be sure to drain and rinse them so the stoup doesn't get muddy looking.

-I prefer to buy "no salt added" canned foods...it's a lot easier to control the seasonings that way, and it's better for ya anyway!