Recipes Archives - Page 9 of 10

Christmas Tablescape & Holiday Tips w/ a Few Favorite Recipes!

Easiest Bruschetta & Toast Recipe

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe

This dish is perfect in the Summer especially made with homegrown tomatoes and fresh basil! A light Summer dish everyone will love. My family could eat it a couple nights a week it’s so good!

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe:

Bruschetta:

4 large tomatoes chopped

1 onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic crushed

Fresh Parmesan cheese grated or shredded to your taste (we use about 1/2 cup)

1/2 balsamic vinegar (if you like more juice for dipping add more)

1 bunch of basil

1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and serve with slices of fresh baguette or my garlic cheese toast below:

Garlic Cheese Toast:

8 slices of fresh Sourdough bread sliced

1 cube of butter

3 cloves of crushed garlic

1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning

1 cup of Mozzarella shredded cheese

Melt butter, add garlic and seasonings brush generously on each piece of toast and top with cheese. Please in oven at 350 until golden brown or cheese is melted. (my boys likes it softer & gooey and my hubby crunchier)

You can serve this as an appetizer or make it a meal served with a salad. The bruschetta is also great served on the top of a grilled chicken breast.

Here is some of my favorite serving Trays {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} Bowls {HERE} {HERE} {HERE}

I hope you try this recipe and if you do please leave a comment, or even better snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@darcyvandenberg), I’d love to reshare! Have a great week OX, D’Arcy

This may contain affiliate links. Thank you for taking the time to read and for your support.

The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

With Summer arriving this week, I thought it would be fun to share my Summer Bucket List with you. It seems Summer comes and goes in a blink of an eye! It is one of my favorite seasons here in Utah, it is also my favorite time to be out enjoying our state, plus our town is just beautiful this time of the year. Here is my Summer bucket list… I hope some of them make your list too:)

Summer Wildflowers: Free People Dress similar {HERE} Purse similar {HERE}

Summer brings the prettiest wildflowers, which make for some very scenic drives along with all our beautiful lakes and mountains… So making my list is a Scenic Drive to Mirror Lake, Bear Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Sundance. Also, I love a weekend drive in my hubby’s convertible to take in the sights and get some fresh air.

Skyline Trail Hike here in our town of Eden (Ogden Valley).

If you’ve been following me, you know I belong to a woman’s hiking group, and we still have quite a lot of Utah hikes we haven’t done. Here are FOUR Hikes that made my list to do this Summer: Wind Cave, {HERE} Donut Falls,{HERE} Fifth Water Hot Springs {HERE}and Secret Lake. {HERE}

Serving Watermelon Pool side. Hat {HERE} Sunglasses dupes {HERE} Suit {HERE} Earrings {HERE}

Watermelon and Fruits of Summer is a pure pleasure, and everyone loves good food and food Events. Hitting the Salt Lake City and Park City Farmers Market is on my list. Here in Utah, several towns host a (Fruit Day) North Ogden has Cherry Days {info HERE}, Brigham City has Peach Days, Bear Lake has Raspberry Days, Melon Day is in Green River {More info on all 3 HERE} and Strawberry Days in Pleasant grove. {HERE}

Another great drive and has Fab Summer fruit is Utah’s Famous Fruit highway! {Here} This is always a must-do!

Pool time at several Las Vegas pools kicked off my Summer! Moorea Beach club & Delano Beach Club @Mandalay Bay,

Pool time is a great Summertime pleasure, and isn’t Summer without laying poolside or playing at a waterpark, am I right? So here are a few pool days that made my list: Grand America pool day, I’ve heard the cocktails are amazing, and the food poolside is just as impressive as the hotel. {HERE} Cowabunga Bay Water Park {HERE} We haven’t been to a water park in years, and it always brought joy to my boys. So I thought it would be fun to re-experience those playful childhood days with our boys… even though they’re young adults, it’s always fun to be a kid!

Summer Trend Scarves and Shades! Top {HERE} Sunnies similar {HERE} Scarf {HERE}

Random things to do that make Summer fun that made my List, Bowling; it’s always fun to have something to do on a hot Summer day! A Drive-in Movie (Every year, I say I want to go, and we never make it!) It’s going to happen this year… and I am not going to fall asleep! The last time I went to the drive-in was with my Childhood friend Selena… We were in college, and we BOTH fell asleep! We woke up to a dark empty parking lot at 1 am! LOL!! Miniature golf because, seriously, who doesn’t love a good game of Miniature golf?

It brings back memories of young Summer night dates! Summer Outdoor concerts we have tickets to Heart so far… but I know we’ll add more:) as the Summer plays out, and it’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy an evening. Warm nights, listening to music, enjoying friends and a good beer! Some great outdoor concert venues {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} {HERE} Some are even FREE!

The Rodeo one of my favorite days of the year. We love to attend the Tough Enough To Wear Pink night for breast cancer survivors! It’s a fun tradition we share with family and friends! It wouldn’t be Summer without attending this event! I cry every time they sing the national anthem with the fly-over. {HERE} This rodeo is ranked as one of the top five large outdoor rodeos in the PRCA.

A weekend in Deer Valley is beautiful in the Summer. It has stunning hikes, beautiful pools, great restaurants, cooler air, and great shopping, perfect for a weekend getaway!

A day at LAGOON {HERE} Utah’s amusement park nothing says Summer like an amusement park, and we haven’t been as a family in years, so this year it’s on the list!

Purchasing the Get Out Pass if you live in Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Idaho is so worth it for $149.99 with over $3,000 worth of yearly admissions per pass. Save $35 with code Darcy35. My family will be enjoying several activities this Summer and Fall, including Cowabunga Bay & Lagoon!

Bruschetta & Toast Recipe on Next week’s blog post!

Summer Food: If you haven’t figured it out by now… My family is foodies! Summer means fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, BBQs, Summer cocktails, late-night S’Mores by the fire, picnics on the boat, and many Summer get-togethers! My bucket list is to share more family recipes with you here on the blog. I’ve been sharing on my instastories, and it has been very popular and very requested. I’ll start with my fresh Bruschetta made with Summers beautiful ripe tomatoes NEXT week…So stay tuned!

Summer also means long days and a little more free time, allowing us to explore new restaurants, read books and enjoy all the beautiful fresh bouquets from our yards. I look forward to this time of the year and soak in all the beauty Summer brings!

Summer Sunsets are the best on the lake! Paddle Boarding and boating are two places you’ll find me every Summer!

My Last Summer bucket list is to be able to make it to the BEACH! I need my toes in the Sand and the smell of salty air. It’s my inner peace, and it’s calling my name! I hope your Summer brings you so much joy, and you check off everything on your BUCKET LIST!

OX, D’Arcy

There’s nothing like the smell of the ocean and sand in your toes! California Lifeguard tower!

Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake

The story behind Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake, A cherished recipe

I wanted to share this recipe with you in memory of my dear friend Judy. It was a cake she brought to every event and party. Back in my scrapbooking days (if any of you from those days are following along, you will remember this cake and Judy well), This cake is so decadent, rich, and fit for a chocolate lover. So very Judy!

Easier than it tastes recipe: Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake

You would think it took forever to make and had a million ingredients! She found out our oldest, who didn’t like cake loved this cake, and she started making it for his birthday every year! One year she surprised me with the recipe! Not something she gave out freely:) It’s a recipe I will genuinely cherish along with her cranberry crush (I’ll share another time).

Keeping Judy’s memory alive

I will care on her tradition by bringing them to parties and events. Judy was one of the classiest, most talented, full of fun ladies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I feel blessed to have shared many scrapbooking, shopping, birthdays, and holidays with this beautiful person. Judy passed away last week and I will truly miss her.

Things Judy and I had in common

We shared many of the same loves and even more in common. Judy was a mom of boys too, and yet so girly like I am. She loved a beautiful home, decorated every holiday perfectly, and loved to entertain to the fullest. She treated her friends like family and made everyone feel special. Judy just might own more pairs of shoes than me…. well, maybe not!:)

We sure did have fun shopping for them together and we might have several of the same pairs. We even wore the same size! She lived her life to the fullest and was one tough cookie. The last few years, she fought her health, while still looking chic! To live until your 80 is fantastic to do it her class, chicness, strength, and love are a gift to all those who knew her!

I will miss you, Judy Lewis, until we meet again, my sweet friend. OX, D’Arcy

chocolate cake

Ingredients you’ll need for this delicious cake; easy to make cake!

Best chocolate cake ever

Judy’s handwritten and scrapbooked recipe, something I will always treasure.

Grease & Flour the Pan

When all the batter is in the pan tap the pan 3 times to even out.

Serve with Judy’s favorite Moose Tracks ice cream or my favorite Vanilla Bean ice cream.

RECIPE:

Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake

1 Duncan Hines Devil’s food cake mix

One small instant vanilla pudding mix

1 Pt. Sour cream

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup Kahlua

2 Eggs

12 oz bag of Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Place the mix in a bowl & whisk in the pudding mix. Add all other ingredients one at a time except chocolate chips. Mix with an electric mixer. Add chips to the mix before spooning into the bundt pan that has been sprayed with pam, and then coat with flour. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 20 min. Then invert the pan on a rack so the cake will slide out. Cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar. I also like to drizzle it with chocolate syrup. Judy serves with Moose Tracks ice Cream, I like Vanilla Beans.

In her memory

I know she would have pure pleasure knowing her cake will be enjoyed by many, so please make it, enjoy it, and share a piece of Judy with your family. OX

Thank you for stopping by to read ” Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake” Does your family love chocolate like mine? I’d love for you to tell me in the comments.

You can also find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Liketoknowit, Amazon shops, and Facebook.

Have a beautiful day, pretty ladies,

You might also Like the following:

Easy Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Mixed Chocolate cookies recipe

3 Ingredient, Quick & Easy Appetizer Perfect for the Holiday’s

Step 1 & 2 &3
unroll the crescent pack and use one section of 4 per each block of cream cheese. stretch dough out just a little and pinch the triangles together.
next: place cream cheese in center and cover with dill.

Step 4
cover the block of cream cheese with the crescent roll leave end unsealed and cut off a 1/2 inch strip from each end then pinch together the ends like shown. I really press everything together until smooth.

Step 5
cut strips into 10 smaller rectangles. Use the 10 pieces to create pedals and balls. Or create your own design. Brush with egg white if you wish. Step 6 repeat with other block of cream cheese and remaining 4 crescents.

Step 7 place in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. ( the egg white wash helps it brown golden)

Step 8 serve warm with crackers.

Step 9 Spread it on a cracker of your choice. This goes quick and doesn’t last at parties. It take about 15 mins to prepare and 15 min in oven (depending on oven)

Hello Beautiful’s!

I hope you had a wonderful week. I know I love when we get an extra week from Thanksgiving to December. It really does help you be more prepared for the Christmas season. With all the Holiday parties fast approaching, I am sure you will be attending one or two that requires you to bring a dish or appetizer to share. I wanted to share with you our families fast and easy appetizer! Crescent dill cream cheese spread. You’ll whip this up so fast and people will think you slaved for hours. It’s been a favorite in our home for twenty something years and I always have the ingredients on hand so I can whip it up on a moments notice! A great tip if you have visitors popping by.

You’ll need:

1 can of crescent rolls

2 cream cheese blocks

Dill seasoning

and 1 egg for egg whites, brush on top before baking

9×9 baking pan

butter or spray to grease pan

Follow the steps above. I love you can pre make a day or two before hand (Non- baked) stick in fridge. Bake right before you’re heading to party.

I hope you’ll try this yummy dish for one of your Holiday parties and stop back by here and tell me how everyone liked it! Here’s to a perfect and easy Holiday season! OX, D’Arcy

October Favorites

October Favorites!

I am a little late to the game on posting October Favorites! But better late than never, right? October was a crazy month, and It’s one of my favorite months too! (maybe because it’s my birthday month?) So anyway posting a monthly round-up of my favorite things from that month featuring anything I loved, from fashion to podcast I am listening to. It has been a popular post of mine, so I thought I would share a more clear favorite from the month here on the blog!

This will be a NEW monthly post (hopefully closer to the end of the month)! This will feature any random things I loved throughout the month, including products I used up! October brought us all the Fall feels with cooler temperatures and pumpkin spice starting to make its way into everything! So here is what made its way into my heart, home and body this last October!

October Favorite: Fall Fashion

One of my favorite things is dressing for Fall! I love the layers and finding fun pieces. I saw this jacket last year at Nordstrom rack and am linking a (similar one DEAL Here and Here) pants and sweater in the photo below.

all black outfit, fall outfit, fall vibes, photos,

Fall leaves are gorgeous this time of the year and perfect for stunning photos! Loving all the Fall vibes. Outfit details: Sweater {here} {similar here} black jeans {similar here} Another October Favorite: over the knee boots {similar here and Here}

On my Instagram, I shared this post with my feelings on aging. Please read it here. October is my birthday month, and I always enjoy the beauty of Fall and the feelings you get from the cooler temperatures and color change. Outfit details: Duster {similar here and here}, distressed jeans {similar here and here}, tee-shirt {here}, and another one I love {here}, plus a killer deal {here}. Let’s not forget these super cute booties {here}, October favorite for Sure! My leopard cardigan cut as well for an October favorite {here}, and this Sweatshirt {here}, plus these pj’s {here}.

October Favorite Books

One of the books I read, Wildchild, is my month’s fav! I couldn’t put it down! Here are a couple more books I read: Good, Better, Best by Sue McCarthy, Audacious by Beth Moore, and The Participation Game by Norty Cohen. I love to read, and I love an actual book to hold, not a fan of my kindle except for travel. How about you? I usually don’t get four books done in 1 month either but being a teacher. You read when the kids do!

I enjoyed each book and was excited to learn business techniques, more about faith, and a book for the joy of reading and taking you somewhere different with a storyline you could relate to. What are you reading? Joanna Gaines’s book is on my nightstand right now (I have had since she released it! Maybe a year or two?) In my school bag is The Career Code.

A book about the photographer, model, and magazine world: it was such a fun read I couldn’t put it down!
A quote from the book Wildchild that I loved and couldn’t have said better! ” Style makes you different. Fashion makes you the same!”

October Favorite Products

I used up. Well, maybe my hubby helped a little! Wink wink! Loreal Revitalift Intensive Overnight Mask: wear in the evening after cleansing the face. It moisturizes but feels thick. Glo Hydra Radiance Moisturizer: a daily moisturizer that makes your skin glow, almost dewy, I would purchase again. Hyaluronic Acid Anti Aging Serum: Use after your toner & helps even skin tone and tighten skin. I think my skin looked clearer (not that I have any acne), just fresh-looking. Revision Skincare Retinol Complete: I use this at night only, and after serum, I use it around my eyes and smile lines. I feel like it helped reduce the lines. It’s a brilliant product to use in your late 30’s to 60’s.

If you have been following, you know how important skincare is to me and that I am always trying new products out to see what works and what doesn’t. I try to share my results with you over on Instastories, and every so often, I’ll do a beauty routine or round up over here on the blog. Would you mind letting me know on what social platform you want me to post results?

New here? I am 47, and nobody ever guesses my age:) some of that I can thank my mom… The other is because of my skincare routine. I’ll do a face mask twice a week (it used to be once a week until I learned 4-5 months ago you should do two a week! I use a cleanser every day and a scrub maybe three times a week. Then I’ll use a toner, then a serum. Retinol is new to my routine, and only at night, and I finish with a moisturizer. At least one night a week, sleeping with vaseline all over my face because Utah is so dry!

I am sharing this with you to understand my routine and know I try a product out for the whole month, sometimes two, before sharing it. I also want you to know I support products I love, which does not always sponsor me. What’s your favorite product? Will you be trying one of my October favorites? Please let me know below!

October brings the most beautiful sunrises. This photo was on my morning drive alongside the lake.

October Favorite Podcasts

I am listening to and can’t get enough… I don’t even listen to music in the car anymore!

Favorites List:

The Influencer Pod: Cast if you are an influencer or in any marketing, it’s a must!
Joel Osteen: Christian.
Style Collective: Great if you’re self-employed.
Wit & Wisdom: Also great if you’re self-employed.
Pop Fashion: You guessed it, Fashion-based.

My October Favorite Random Things

This month I adored this lipstick (here), my favorite blanket to snuggle up with (here), and my favorite seasonal mug (here). I used to snuggle up and watch Hocus Pocus at least 25 times during October! My favorite NEW TV shows: God Friended A Million Little Things and Me!

And now the excellent stuff! Fall means comfort food, homemade soups, mac and cheese, chicken pot pie, and yummy pasta! Here’s my easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (here), and I will continue to share our family’s favorite dishes with you since it’s some of my most engaged posts. Below is my oldest son Hudson’s easy Spicy Rigatoni Recipe! You’re going to love it, and it’s so effortless!

My Sons Easy Spicy Rigatoni Recipe:
For a quick and easy throw-together meal that feels like you slaved in the kitchen. You’ll love this Spicy Rigatoni Recipe. Our family loves Buca di Beppo’s Spicy Chicken Rigatoni. One day Hudson, my oldest, decided he would recreate it in a fast college student way! So he did, and it is yummy.

You’ll Need:

1 box rigatoni Our Favorite HERE

1 16 oz jar of your Favorite Marinara sauce (we like garlic and basil) It’s WHOLE30 HERE

1 16 oz jar of your favorite Alfredo sauce but your only using about 10 oz (we like this one HERE)

1 half-pint heavy whipping cream using 1/2 of the container (we like this one HERE)

1 small bag of frozen peas

2 tablespoons of fresh minced garlic

1 tablespoon of crushed red pepper HERE

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup parmesan cheese to top off HERE

Optional Add-Ins: 3 Grilled chicken breast cut thin and pan-fried or grilled.

In a large pan, bring to boil water for pasta and follow directions on the box. In a medium saucepan, pour in a jar of Marinara sauce, add about 10-12 oz of the Alfredo sauce, and 1/2 the container of the cream, let simmer and add in all the seasonings. Don’t add peas to the sauce until the very end (about 1 min to the sauce), right before you drain pasta and are ready to dish up. You want the peas to be warm but still have a little crunch. Plate pasta, cover in sauce, and top with parmesan! So good and dinner in less than 20 minutes! Serve with a salad and garlic bread!

My favorite pasta serving bowl (HERE) and the best strainer (HERE)

Did you do anything from my Fall bucket list HERE?

I hope you had a beautiful October and enjoyed the list of my favorite October things! Let me know if you try a couple of them, maybe this November. Seriously, I can’t believe it’s already the 2nd week of November, and I have some exciting things planned for the blog.

The month of November is a great reminder of all the things we should be grateful for. So in November, I will be sharing my gratitude list, easy way’s to give back, and some fun shopping guides for the upcoming Holiday season. Also, Sharing shopping guides for my Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday picks along with Holiday outfits, a couple of our favorite Holiday recipes, and of course, my Thanksgiving tablescape and peeks at some Holiday decor! So stay tuned as I have exciting things to share! Have a beautiful week!

THIS POST may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Recipe for Chocolate Kahlua Cake

Happy Monday Beautiful’s!

You guys asked for this recipe when I shared a photo of it on Instastories. So here’s a little background on how this yummy little treat made it into my recipe box. Back in the days when I did scrapbooking retreats, I had a dear friend Judy make this to die for cake and would bring it to the party! Everyone in attendance would rave and would silently be hoping for it at every retreat. We were blessed with this cake every time Judy came.

This cake is so decadent and rich, if you’re a chocolate lover you’ll think you died and went to heaven. My oldest son adores this cake and Judy would be so sweet to make it for him on several birthdays.

One year we were delighted when she shared the recipe with us and now I can share it with you.

Nobody thought by the taste that it could be a box cake mix and so easy to make! I am so happy I could share it with you and hopefully it becomes a family favorite for you too.

Judy’s Chocolate Kahlua Cake

1 Duncan Hines devils food cake mix

1 Small instant vanilla pudding

1 Pint sour cream

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup Kahlua

2 eggs

12 oz bag Semi sweet chocolate chips

Place mix in bowl & whisk in pudding mix. Add all other ingredients one at a time except chocolate chips. Mix with electric mixer. Add chips into mix before spooning into greased and floured bunt pan or mini bunt pans.

Bake at 350 for 50 mins depending on oven, then cool on rack for 20 min.

Then invert pan or pans on rack so cake will slide out, cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

Serve with vanilla bean ice cream, or with Judy’s favorite: moose tracks ice cream!

My mom was in town for her birthday (she always travels out for both our birthdays, hers is the 12th and mine is the 20th) the boys made her make this recipe! Nothing like making you own birthday cake! HEHE… I am finishing up Whole30 and didn’t want to be tempted….so no cake for me! I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and let me know if you tried this recipe. OX, D’Arcy

A couple of my favorite Baking tools from Amazon Here, Here, Here, and Here

Fall Bucket List 12 Must Do Fall Activities

white kitchen, marble, super white quartzite counter tops

Bath and Body Works Fall candle collection, my favorite is leaves. Costco Fall flowers & candy corn make it feel like fall! My shirt is by Trunk old, similar here & here.

Hello Beautiful’s! You know how much I love Fall (it’s going to be my Birthday month!) and how much I love to do & enjoy all things Fall! So I thought it would be fun to do a Fall bucket list to share with you, since you loved my Winter bucket list last year (If you missed that check it out here!). I hope it inspires you to get in the spirt of the season and check a couple things off the list as well! OX

PUMPKIN PATCH – Well of course, an annual event around year! Even if my kids are big and over it! I still drag them out for a family day (normally it’s bribed with food). I always have a large assortment of pumpkins on our porch, steps and entryway. So this is a great time to have everyone pick a verity and help decorate!
HAUNTED HOUSE– A perfect date with the family, my boys will be really into this! I haven’t been to one since high school, so wish me luck!
A day in front of a fire with a cozy blanket, a cup of tea, a candle burning and a great book!
Go on an OUTDOOR HIKE, where the colors are stunning and the air is crisp!
Go to a COLLAGE FOOTBALL game! We have to go support Auston Tesch #53 for Weber state at least once a year! It’s always fun and last year my mom was here to go support him too!
Take a FALL DRIVE where the leaves are in full glory. I love grabbing a warm drink and taking a drive with my hubby to see the color’s. It’s fun to grab a meal out and make it a date. When we lived in California, we would go with the entire family,(my mom & my sister) to Oak Glen and pick apples, boy do I miss those days.
Make a HOMEMADE PIE, I haven’t made a pie from scratch in a few years. I used to love making apple pies, when we had so many apple trees in California! (I need to plant a couple apple trees)
JUMP INTO A PILE OF LEAVES and get a cute picture! I will wait for my boys to rake all the leaves up! hehe
Make a big POT OF CHILI (my veggie chili recipe is below) and watch Hocus Pocus! I mean what is fall without watching Hocus Pocus at least 10 times!
Create a FALL WARDROBE CAPSULE, these wardrobe capsules have been all the rage, (have you heard of them?) with fall being most peoples favorite time to shop, it’s a great time to create one for you. Help yourself to get inspiration and pick out classic pieces to build your wardrobe for Fall.
Spend the WEEKEND with GIRLFRIENDS in PJ’S watching HALLMARK MOVIES. Of course we’ll do face mask, drink wine and eat all kinds of yummy food! Who’s ready for a sleep over?
Enjoy a FIRE ON THE DECK making s’mores, under cozy blankets enjoying the crisp fall air! I will be decorating my back deck for fall this year! Unfortunately it’s a short season here in Utah, So I have never decorated the back deck for fall. This year we are going too spend more time wrapped in blankets enjoying the crisp air.

Corn Maze Fun: Outfit details- Cardigan old: similar here & here, Black tee Here, Shoes similar here, Camo moto pants, Old: Similar here and here here

Louis Vuitton, fall nails, purchase color here and Starbucks. Three of my favorite things!

My Easy Veggie Chili Recipe: (slow cooker) So easy you’ll make it a ton!

1 large can of chili beans and sauce

1 can each of pinto, kidney, red beans drained and rinsed

1 large can of tomato sauce

1 can of crushed tomatoes

1 cup of water

1 each of a red, yellow, green bell peppers, washed and chopped

1 large onion chopped and browned

4 cloves of garlic chopped browned

1 tablespoon of butter (for browning onion and garlic)

1 tablespoon of chili powder

1 tablespoon of onion salt

1 tablespoon of kitchen bouquet (browning seasoning)

1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

crushed red pepper seasoning to taste

shredded cheese (for topping)

Brown the onions and garlic in the butter, then add everything (except cheese) into the crockpot on low in the morning and come home to a yummy meal! You can brown turkey or meat of choice with a chili seasoning packet and add that, but you’ll need another can of tomato sauce. Serve with corn bread, fritos or soda crackers!

Extra toppings optional: sour cream, green onions, hot sauce I hope you try it and let me know what you think. It’s a family favorite around here!

As promised I shared ALL the weekend sales on my instagram stories under Shopping!

I picked some of my favorite things and shared the deals, so go check them out!

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time out of your day to spend a little bit of time with me. If you have any question, please remember to leave a comment. I love helping my friends out! OX, D’Arcy

Best Homemade Salsa Recipe

Best Homemade Salsa Recipe:

Use veggies fresh from the garden or headed to the market. Either way, you’ll love this salasa recipe, a favorite

All the ingredients for a big batch of homemade salsa. Makes 3 quarts

Fresh Veggies from the garden.

Chopping all the veggies, I cut everything into this size.

Green chilies, Green salsa, garlic, oregano, onion salt

Everything is cut up and all ingredients in the pot, before cooking!

salsa as it is cooking down.

After cooled pour into blender and blend for a minute, or to the consistency you want.

chips served with the salsa. Add cheese to one for a variation.

Finished salsa without cheese

Salsa with cheese

Homemade Salsa recipe:

12 fresh tomatoes

Or 3 cups of tomatoes

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 7-oz cans Green chili peppers, chopped (unless you have fresh)

1 12-oz green chili salsa

1 large yellow onion, chopped

One bunch of green onions, chopped

2 or 3 jalapeños chopped

2 large tablespoons Oregano

Two Large tablespoons of Onion Salt

2 large Table spoons of chopped Garlic

Add all ingredients into a large pan and bring to a boil on the stove top, stir, and then let simmer on low for about 1 hour. Let cool; this takes a couple of hours. Then pour into the blender or Emersion blender and blend until the consistency you like. Pour into containers and chill. (or if you are making big batches to can) Let cool in jars on the counter.

Enjoy!

I like to serve 1 bowl with cheese and 1 bowl without, with your favorite chips! Perfect for Large crowds & football season! We’ve been making this recipe since I was a kid. My mom got this recipe from a dear family friend, and we’ve enjoyed making it ever since!

I hope you will enjoy it as much as we have!

What I was wearing

Happy tee, I showed you how I cut the neck out of my tees to make an off-the-shoulder tee in my Instagram stories. These cute Happy tees are made locally here in Utah. I was wearing this tee when I was sharing a recipe on instastories and got a ton of questions on it, so I wanted to give you the link to purchase these cute tees HERE. Go check them out, it’s a woman-owned company, and she makes darling t-shirts.

Check out my Fiesta bar cart styling, perfect for serving those chips and salsa! View the Bar cart in more detail HERE.

Thank you for stopping by

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

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How to make the BEST Banana Bread!

Something you may not know about me? I love to bake, and after sharing some of the things i’d been making on my instastories, I got an overwhelming response to please share recipes. I love to give you what you want, so I made a new category here on my blog to share Recipes. It’s under Lifestyle in the drop down and I hope you’ll try the recipes I share. I will be sharing family recipes and ones I have created. Bare with me as I promise my food photography will get better!

I love to entertain as you know, and I’ve been cooking and baking since I was so young! I won the BEST apple pie in the 3rd grade and would have been one of those kids vying to be on today’s Baking kids championships, had we had those then! My time it was country fair and school baking competition, Boy times have changed! Not that I am a fancy baker (I am not) I just love to bake good basic’s!

Once Upon a time, years ago I put on scrapbooking retreats and I cooked all the meals, 3 meals a day plus snacks. The ladies always raved about my food and wanted me to create a cookbook and while I said I would, I collected mine and my families recipes, but I never put that book together! Maybe one day I will, but until then i’ll be sharing my favorites here! My plan if all goes well, is to share a recipe with you every Monday. So here’s goes my first Monday Recipe, My Grandma’s Banana bread or muffins recipe, with a couple of improvement’s! My grandma Mercer made this bread every Christmas and sometimes we’d get lucky and get it for a family gathering throughout the year. I started making this bread when I got married and giving out to our neighbor’s, Ups, mailman and friends for Christmas. I’d make 24 loaves! I’d save every brown spotted banana and threw it in the freezer. At first my hubby would question all the bananas taking up all the freezer space, but now nobody say’s a thing! They get really excited if they see them defrosting in the sink!

My Boy’s are terrible… They’ll each eat a loaf in a day if i’d let them! When I make a batch I alway’s make multiple batches. If making for my family i’ll do 4 batches, and make two trays of muffins and 4 medium loaves, then i’ll freeze 1/2. When I make at Christmas i’ll make 8 to 12 batches and make some medium loaves and the rest mini loaves to give as gift’s.

My Grandma’s recipe called for 3 overripe banana’s, I do 4 and I make sure the bananas have been frozen and then thawed. This makes for the most moist banana bread you’ve ever have. I also added chocolate chips or nuts, my grandmothers was just plain banana bread. You can leave out the Chocolate chips or the nuts if you wish, the main recipe won’t change.

Recipe: Best Banana Bread with Chocolate chips

2cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 overripe bananas

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted & cooled

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For a variation add chocolate chips ( 2 cups) walnuts or pecans (1 cup)!

powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease your muffin or loaf pan’s. Mash the bananas with a fork in a small bowl and then whip them, set aside. in large bowl add butter, eggs, vanilla beat well. Mix dry ingredients, fold in the banana’s and chocolate chips or nuts or both. Pour batter into loaf or muffin pans. Give the pan a good rap on the counter to get rid of air bubbles! Place in oven, oven’s all range in heat temperatures so time could vary, so I say start checking in 45 min but could go as long as 1 hour. Test by sticking a toothpick in center, if comes out clean, it’s done! Makes 1 large loaf or 2 small loaves.

I hope you enjoy one of my families favorite treats! Ox

Remember I am not trained in baking or cooking in anyway, I am just a wife and mom cooking for family & friends. Please let me know if you tried the recipe and how they turned out! OX, D’Arcy