I did my grocery shopping already, kept my spending to under what I had budgeted. That's always a bonus! I love getting those cash register coupons at the checkout, and for once there were actually two that I would use. They always give you ones for stuff you would never buy. I am still hoping that they will give out one for acne pills, one can hope.

I have a cooking class tomorrow to go to, so I had to get a few things for this, like round brie cheese and apricot jam.  I found the cheese alright, but the jam not so much.  The store I went to had lots of apricot preserves, but no jam.  I am hoping that the one I got will do just fine.  We are going to be making lots of appetizers, yum!

I actually ventured in the Christmas aisle (even tho I hate that they have them up before Thanksgiving), to look at the ornaments.  I have a few exchanges I am in this year, so I am scouting them out early to see what I to get.  Then over to the craft asile to look at yarns to go with some towels I am going to be making as well.

Productive morning, now I am killing time before I have to go pick up the kindergartener and then we will be meeting my friend and her boys for lunch.

These are on the menu for the week.  They look so yummy, and not all that hard to make.

Taco Cups

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg.  (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (10 oz.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup  KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

HEAT oven to 400°F. Cook meat with seasoning mix as directed on package.

PRESS biscuits onto bottoms and up sides of 10 muffin cups; fill with meat mixture.

BAKE 15 min. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 2 to 3 min. or until melted.
 

Trent and I went and got his Halloween costume today, and then made a stop at "Under the Pines" to get some apples.  I have been wanting to make some homemade applesauce, and today is the perfect day to do it!

The apples (I forgot I wanted to take some pics first, I had already peeled some)

Peeling, coring and slicing ~ love this Pampered Chef gadget!!

in the crock pot waiting for sugar, cinnamon and water

8 to 10 tart apples

1/2 to 1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Enjoy!

Last Sunday we had a chili cook-off at our church.  I entered, using one of the recipes that we tried in my last cooking class.  As I was making it I dumped in the chili powder thinking…  Hmmm that might be a tad too much.  Oh well, it was already in it.  I do have to  say it was the hit of the cook off!  People kept asking the gal who was in charge of it who made it, as they wanted the recipe.  Little do they know it was hers, I just happen to be the one who made it.  I will find out this Sunday who the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners are!  *fingers crosse* I placed!

Here's the recipe:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp oregano
1 Tbsp beef soup base
¼ c chili powder (I am adjusting this to my taste as it was way to spicy for me)
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
3 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) cans kidney beans
1 can chili beans in sauce
1 chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce*
2 c water

In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook beef until brown.  Stir in onions, bell pepper, celery and jalapenos and cook until tender.  Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.  Season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, sugar, salt , pepper and chipolte pepper.  Stir in tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, beef base and water.  Let simmer about 1.5 hours.  Add kidney beans with their liquid and chili beans.  Heat for about 30 minutes.

Yummy with cornbread or fresh rolls.

*Leave out chipotle pepper if you don’t  like it hot*

I had my last cooking class this past weekend, and it was all about strawberries!  Mmmmm  We made strawberry freezer jam, a strawberry trifle, and strawberry shortcake.  I still can't believe how easy it was to make the jam!  I thought it was this long, drawn out process to make!

Starting to make the trifle

This was so yummy!!  We even made homemade angel food cake!  Which was really easy to make as well!

One of the 12 jars of jam I made, so yummy as well!

Later on this summer, we are going to get together and can some peaches and then tomatoes!!  And then in Sept, she will start the classes all over again and the first one will be co-ed, as we are going to prepare for the chili cook off at our church!  Can't wait! 

I have been taking a cooking class that is being offered by a lady at our church.  She is an awesome cook, an I have loved every minute with her.  Our first class was spent making breads, rolls and cinnamon rolls.  It was just her and I, so it was lots of fun!  The next class was all about pies.  The next was soup making, oh yum!  Then we did breakfast!  She taught us how to make omelets!  This is one I was excited about, as I couldn't make an omelet to save my life!

Brianna rolling out her dough for the noodles 

Diana stirring the soup (she doesn't cook)

 rolling out her dough for the noodles 

 Briana and I making our omelets

I have been asked to do a review on Grey Poupon mustards.  We have the Hearty Spicy Brown and Harvest Coarse Ground to try. 

I am not a mustard fan (unless I doctor it up in a recipe), so I am leaving it up to my guys to give me an honest review.  Sundays are days I don't really like to cook, so for dinner we had subs.   The the guys tried the spicy one on half of their sub, they both liked it, said it had just the right spice for their liking.  Then they tried the other one on the other half of the subs, and didn't care for the taste of it.  They said they had too much of a bite for their taste.   

I love experimenting with different recipes, so I can't wait to try out a mustard sauce recipe on the pork chops I have in the freezer this week.  I found this recipe, pork chops with dijon sauce.  I am going to alter the mustard up and use the Hearty Spicy Brown mustard.  Doesn't this look yummy?

I can't wait to sink my teeth into it!